It hasn’t been a great way to start to the season for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The perennial Sun Belt contender has been blown out by Toledo and Auburn in its first two games and its offense has been unable to get on track. Now the Red Wolves face another difficult test before starting conference play when they travel all the way out to Logan, Utah where they will face another quality mid-major team in the Utah State Aggies in Week 3 College Football action.
Kickoff for this Week 3 game is set for Friday, September 16, 2016 at 9 p.m. ET at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. This game will be broadcast on CBSS.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Utah State -9
Arkansas State +9
Odds Analysis
Utah State opened as an 8-point favorite and the line moved up to 9 shortly after it was released. The Aggies have only been this big of a favorite over one FBS non-conference opponent under Matt Wells, against Wake Forest back in 2014.
Player to Watch
Devante Mays was the star of Utah State’s season opening win over Weber State. The talented running back ripped off three touchdowns in the first 16 minutes of the game and led the Aggies to waltz over their in-state FCS rivals.
Mays came on as a starter halfway through last season after spending his first two years of eligibility at junior college. He is a bruising runner who wears opponents down over the course of a game and punishes would-be tacklers.
He was the best barometer of success for the Aggies after he became the starter last season. He ran wild against Nevada and Wyoming, two games that Utah State won handily, and also had a solid game in the win over Boise State.
Key Stat
The Red Wolves have typically had a competent passer, but while there were high hopes for Pittsburgh transfer Chad Voytik this season he has yet to fulfill expectations. Voytik was the starter at Pittsburgh in 2014 and had a decent season as the signal-caller for Panthers under Paul Chryst. However, when the coaching staff changed, Pat Narduzzi tabbed Nathan Peterman as the starter instead of Voytik and he started to explore other options.
Voytik has yet to turn the ball over through two games, but hasn’t lit the world on fire either. He was awful against Toledo, averaging less than two yards a pass attempt if you take out his 83-yard completion, and it was more of the same against Auburn. He has to play better for the Red Wolves to have a chance in a hostile environment.
Free ATS Pick
These coaches are both seen as up-and-comers and both have continued the winning ways of schools that traditionally weren’t winners. Utah State was considered one of the toughest places in the country to win at before Gary Anderson took over and now the Aggies have gone to five bowls in a row. The Red Wolves have also revived their program of late with five straight bowl appearances as well, but Arkansas State was a place of one-hit wonders with single seasons under Hugh Freeze, Gus Malzahn, and Bryan Harsin.
If Arkansas State wants to get back to a bowl, it needs to start winning and fast. The Red Wolves haven’t started a season 0-3 in some time and with their first two conference games against fellow contenders Georgia Southern and South Alabama, losing here makes a 1-5 start a very real possibility.
Unfortunately for the Red Wolves, they won’t get it done against the Aggies. Arkansas State has not given its fans reason to be optimistic and it’s tough to believe that it has what it takes to win a crucial road game. Utah State will win and cover the spread handily.
College Football Odds: Aggies 34, Red Wolves 17
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