Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium isn’t usually a friendly place for visiting quarterbacks, but the Cowboys are going to have their hands full this weekend.
Former New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier will lead Utah into Laramie, Wyoming, to face the undefeated Cowboys (2-0) on Saturday.
Dampier torched Mountain West defenses to the tune of 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground and 2,768 yards and 12 more scores through the air last season. He jumped into the transfer portal after the season and landed at Utah, where he has led the Utes (2-0) to lopsided wins in their first two games of the year.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior didn’t need to use his legs much last week against Cal Poly. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-9 win. He ran the ball just four times for 25 yards.
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In a season-opening 43-10 win over UCLA, he threw just four incompletions (21-for-25 passing) and racked up 206 yards and two touchdowns through the air and a team-high 87 yards and another score on the ground.
Wyoming has a talented, young quarterback of its own in sophomore Kaden Anderson. He threw two touchdowns last weekend in a 31-7 win over Northern Iowa but left the game late with an upper-body injury. He is expected to play this weekend, Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said on Monday, but he’s going to need some help from physical running back Sam Scott, explosive wide receiver Chris Durr Jr., and the defense if the Cowboys are going to remain undefeated.
Utah At Wyoming Betting Line
Utah is a 23.5-point college football betting odds favorite on BetMGM, and the Over/Under is 48.5 points. The moneyline is at -3000 for Utah and +1300 for Wyoming.
Utah At Wyoming On TV
The non-conference game between Utah and Wyoming will be televised on CBS Sports Network. It’s the first time the Cowboys and Utes have played since 2010, when Utah was still a member of the Mountain West. The Utes lead the overall series 4-1.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Utah At Wyoming Prediction
I predict Utah wins 45-17.
Wyoming’s defense has been solid so far this year. The Cowboys have given up just seven points in two games. The offense has also been more explosive than recent years. The Cowboys are averaging 225 passing yards a game and 11.5 yards a catch.
That being said, Wyoming hasn’t faced anything like it’s going to see Saturday against Utah. Dampier is probably the most athletic quarterback the Cowboys will face all season, and he’s supported by a deep backfield that includes Wayshawn Parker and former New Mexico running back Naquari Rogers. The Utes’ defense is also giving up just 9.5 points a game.
Wyoming is an improved team, and the future is bright if the Cowboys can keep their stars out of the transfer portal. But I don’t think they’re ready to match up with a team of Utah’s caliber.
