Arkansas vs. BYU Betting: Disappointed Hogs, Cougars look to return to win column in intriguing non-conference clash

Just a few weeks ago, BYU’s clash with Arkansas looked like it might be a midseason non-conference matchup between two highly ranked college football teams in New Year’s Six contention.

With the Razorbacks making the trip to Provo following an 0-3 start in SEC play and the Cougars already owning losses against Oregon and Notre Dame, neither team is ranked entering the game.

But while it now won’t occupy a prime space on the national radar while the Alabama vs. Tennessee, Oklahoma State vs. TCU, and NC State vs. Syracuse games are all going on at the same time, it is still a very intriguing matchup between two talented teams.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. BYU Cougars Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Arkansas Razorbacks (3-3) vs. BYU Cougars (4-2)
• Venue & Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium (Provo, Utah)
• Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
• Game Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. local time)
• How to Watch Arkansas vs. BYU: ESPN

Arkansas vs. BYU Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Arkansas +1.5 (-110)
• BYU -1.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 66.5 (-110)
• Under 66.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Arkansas -106
• BYU -113

Arkansas vs. BYU Prediction and Betting Picks

Arkansas vs. BYU Prediction: BYU to win

Arkansas vs. BYU Picks: BYU ML (Best Value: -110 at BetMGM) & BYU team total over (Best Value: over 33.5 @ -122 at BetUS)

The Razorbacks will get a major boost for their showdown with the Cougars, as quarterback KJ Jefferson will be back in action after missing last Saturday’s 40-17 loss at Mississippi State.

But for all that Jefferson’s return does make them a better team, Arkansas needs to be much, much better defensively in Provo after giving up 49 points and 555 yards against Alabama and 40 points and 568 yards to Mississippi State in back-to-back weeks.

As for BYU, the Cougars need to be on the right side of the ball more than they were in last week’s 28-20 loss to Notre Dame.

The Cougars averaged a respectable 6.1 yards per play and averaged more yards per carry against the Irish (5.5) than they do for the season (5.0).

But they held the ball for just 19:05, and after the Cougars rallied to pull within 25-20 after trailing 25-6 in the third quarter, a tired defense allowed two long runs on Notre Dame’s final two possessions that help the Irish close out the win at Allegiant Stadium.

While it’s rare to see a team control the clock to the level that Notre Dame did, losing the TOP battle has been a common theme for the Cougars this season. In six games, they have come out on the short end in time of possession four times.

Were this game somewhere else, I’d be more inclined to back Arkansas. But since losing to Washington in September 2019, the Cougars have lost just once at home, a 26-17 loss to Boise State last October.

Bonus Pick: Kody Epps (BYU) to score a touchdown anytime (+145 at BetOnline)

The redshirt freshman receiver has found the end zone in each of the Cougars’ last four games, and he is coming off of the best two games of his collegiate career.

In a win over Utah State a few weeks ago, he had five catches, which tied a career high, for 86 yards. That almost doubled his previous career high of 45 yards, which he had against Oregon earlier this season.

Epps followed that performance with four catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, recording his first 100-yard game and his first multi-touchdown game.

Given how much of a factor he has been recently, these odds are too good to pass up. There’s also a lot of value in backing Keanu Hill (+220), who has four receiving touchdowns this season and is the team’s leader in receiving yards (334) and yards per catch (19.6), to hit paydirt as well.

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