Blowouts aren’t an exact science for normal human beings. I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually remember the specific outcomes of past mis-matchups.
Meanwhile, those sinister MIT grads who could be making particle bombs or powering all of Northern Africa are spending 60 hours per week pouring over these numbers so they can stick it to the middle-aged alcoholics who gave them wedgies in P.E.
Anyway, when I see the 21.5 point spread, I think, “Uh-oh. I really want to take Utah State since a loss by three even touchdowns would win it for me — especially after Utah lost by 27 to a UNLV team that was given a run for its money by the Aggies in the opener.”
Whenever it’s that clear-cut, it’s time to reconsider. That’s exactly how Vegas wants you to feel.
Here are some more relevant facts:
* Utah is 6-3 against the spread in its last nine games.
* Utah State is 1-8 against the spread in its last nine games.
* Utah is 5-1 against the spread in its last six home games.
* Utah State is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games on the road.
Then there’s the “motivation factor.” Utah is coming off a 27-point loss on the road to a clearly inferior team. Utah State just suffered a demoralizing, 23-20 loss to San Jose State at home. The Utes are angry. The Aggies don’t have anything left to play for but a quiet bus ride home to s****y Logan.
Piper’s pick: Utah -21.5 (Utes 48, Aggies 17)
Editor’s note: Gambling is illegal in the state of Utah.