BYU-Utah History ATS

[Art Vandelay]

I don't gamble, but if I did one of the safer bets over the years would be to always bet for Utah when playing BYU, especially when they are an underdog. In the last 10 years, BYU has only beaten the spread 4 times and 3 of those were losses (one of which the mighty Cougs scored exactly zero points). BYU has been the favorite and covered exactly one time 2007. I personally think the line is too high this year (BYU -7.5). I will be shocked if BYU wins by more than a touchdown.

All lines are from the BYU perspective a minus number means they were favored, a plus number means they were underdogs.

2013: -7.0....
2012: -4.0.... 21-24 - Loss no cover
2011: -4.0.... 10-54 - Loss and not in the freaking vicinity of a cover.
2010: +9.0.....16-17- Loss but covered
2009: -7.5.....26-23 - Win but no cover
2008: +6.5.....24-48 - Loss and no cover
2007: -4.5 ....17-10 - Only game they win and cover in over a decade.
2006: -10.5....33-31 - Win but no cover
2005: -10 .....34-41- Loss and no cover
2004:+18.5....21-52- Loss and no cover
2003: +8 ......0-3 - The worst cover in the history of betting!
2002: +7.5.....6-13 - Loss but covered
2001: -5.5 .....24-21 - Win but no cover

[Mormon Red Death]

2009: -7.5
2008: +6.5.....24-48 - Loss and no cover
2007: -4.5 ....17-10 - Only game they win and cover in over a decade.
2006: -10.5....33-31 - Win but no cover
2005: -10 .....34-41- Loss but covered
2004:+18.5....21-52- Loss and no cover
2003: +8 ......0-3 - The worse cover in the history of betting!
2002: +7.5.....6-13 - Loss but covered
2001: -5.5 .....24-21 - Win but no cover

I was initially surprised that Utah was a 10 point dog in 2005 then I remembered Brian Johnson's injury.

[byu71]

I don't gamble, but if I did one of the safer bets over the years would be to always bet for Utah when playing BYU, especially when they are an underdog. In the last 10 years, BYU has only beaten the spread 4 times and 3 of those were losses (one of which the mighty Cougs scored exactly zero points). BYU has been the favorite and covered exactly one time 2007. I personally think the line is too high this year (BYU -7.5). I will be shocked if BYU wins by more than a touchdown.

All lines are from the BYU perspective a minus number means they were favored, a plus number means they were underdogs.

2009: -7.5
2008: +6.5.....24-48 - Loss and no cover
2007: -4.5 ....17-10 - Only game they win and cover in over a decade.
2006: -10.5....33-31 - Win but no cover
2005: -10 .....34-41- Loss but covered
2004:+18.5....21-52- Loss and no cover
2003: +8 ......0-3 - The worse cover in the history of betting!
2002: +7.5.....6-13 - Loss but covered
2001: -5.5 .....24-21 - Win but no cover

That would indicate it is a Utah / BYU thing and not necessarily a Kyle / Bronco thing.

[Donuthole]

2009: -7.5
2008: +6.5.....24-48 - Loss and no cover
2007: -4.5 ....17-10 - Only game they win and cover in over a decade.
2006: -10.5....33-31 - Win but no cover
2005: -10 .....34-41- Loss but covered
2004:+18.5....21-52- Loss and no cover
2003: +8 ......0-3 - The worse cover in the history of betting!
2002: +7.5.....6-13 - Loss but covered
2001: -5.5 .....24-21 - Win but no cover

2005 is a loss and no cover

[LiveCoug]

Edit 2005... We lost and didn't cover

[Art Vandelay]

2005 is a loss and no cover

Edit 2005... We lost and didn't cover

oops. Fixed

[Indy Coug]

This thread shows that BYU fans put more money on games than President Hinckley would have ever imagined.

[Donuthole]

I was initially surprised that Utah was a 10 point dog in 2005 then I remembered Brian Johnson's injury.

I'm surprised Utah was an 8 point favorite in 2002. That's a pretty big spread for two pretty equally crappy teams.

[Art Vandelay]

I updated the results from last year. Utah favored by the second largest amount in the last 25 year. Perhaps it is the blue goggles but I don't feel the disparity between the two team is as large as the point spread would indicate. However, history clearly shows it is wise to take Utah and the points + or - in this rivarly.

[BoylenOver]

I updated the results from last year. Utah favored by the second largest amount in the last 25 year. Perhaps it is the blue goggles but I don't feel the disparity between the two team is as large as the point spread would indicate. However, history clearly shows it is wise to take Utah and the points + or - in this rivarly.

BYU having 3 more losses, going on the road, with a true freshman at QB makes it understandable why the line is double-digits. I would guess it drops if the weather forecasts continue to hold true.

[Art Vandelay]

* updated *

Yuck, I had forgotten last years score. I'm beginning to hate the number 16.

[Katy Lied]

After watching all of the games for both teams to date, I'm convinced that this game is a true crapshoot, and anyone's to win.

[Eddie]

After watching all of the games for both teams to date, I'm convinced that this game is a true crapshoot, and anyone's to win.

In 2008 Alema Harrington kept telling everyone who would listen on the radio that both teams have a 50/50 shot at winning.

Now - I think that in 2008 he was wrong.

But most of the time - I agree with you and Alema. Throw records out the window, because they rarely matter. Either team is very capable of winning or losing this thing.

[Art Vandelay]

The spread has dropped to -3.5 or -4 depending on which book you look at. That means, A LOT of coin was dropped on Utah with the bigger number. I don't know what it takes to move a spread 3 points, but I would guess a lot of money 500k+ came in very quickly on that line. I think a lot of people incorrectly assume this is because BYU fans don't bet or because Vegas thinks Utah is better. Line movements are almost solely from sharps and wise guys. They have no emotional attachment to a team or even who will win, they look for what they consider a bad number. In fact, the same better may have money on both BYU and Utah for this game. Lets say, prior to the lines coming out he considers BYU a 4.5 point favorite. When he sees the book has Utah +6.5 he jumps on it putting as much money as he can down initially, maybe even going to several sportsbooks locking in that number. The book reacts and quickly shifts the line lower, maybe even too low (BYU -3.5). Now the bettor sees value in taking BYU.

Whats interesting to me, is as close as this game always is it has never been considered a +/- 3 point spread. If both teams are considered equal, the home team is usually a 3 point favorite.

[Mormon Red Death]

The spread has dropped to -3.5 or -4 depending on which book you look at. That means, A LOT of coin was dropped on Utah with the bigger number. I don't know what it takes to move a spread 3 points, but I would guess a lot of money 500k+ came in very quickly on that line. I think a lot of people incorrectly assume this is because BYU fans don't bet or because Vegas thinks Utah is better. Line movements are almost solely from sharps and wise guys. They have no emotional attachment to a team or even who will win, they look for what they consider a bad number. In fact, the same better may have money on both BYU and Utah for this game. Lets say, prior to the lines coming out he considers BYU a 4.5 point favorite. When he sees the book has Utah +6.5 he jumps on it putting as much money as he can down initially, maybe even going to several sportsbooks locking in that number. The book reacts and quickly shifts the line lower, maybe even too low (BYU -3.5). Now the bettor sees value in taking BYU.

Whats interesting to me, is as close as this game always is it has never been considered a +/- 3 point spread. If both teams are considered equal, the home team is usually a 3 point favorite.

The line can move for a myriad reasons and for all we know it could be the squares taking Utah like crazy.