BYU-Navy betting preview: Can Cougars handle elite rushing attack?

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BYU and Navy meet Monday for a little Labor Day action. Here's all the info you need to know before placing your wagers.

BYU at Navy

Spread: BYU -1
Total: 49.5

The early money was on BYU and the under. The Cougars swung from three-point underdogs to two-point favorites and have now seemingly settled somewhere in the middle.

BYU preview

Quarterback Zach Wilson is an underrated athlete. His claim to fame was a perfect 18-for-18 outing in a bowl win over Western Michigan in 2018.

Wilson leads a BYU offense that returned 77% of last year's production. However, the Cougars recently lost star tight end and draft prospect Matt Bushman who averaged 17.4 yards per catch and dropped only one pass in 2019.

One would assume the most ideal spots to draw a triple-option offense would be the first week of the season and the bowl game. However, BYU's had just a little more than a month to prepare; will that be enough time to cram in assignment football versus a daunting rushing attack?

BYU was pretty average defensively last season. The Cougars ranked No. 58 in the country in scoring defense and No. 63 in yards allowed per play. This year's unit has 62% of last season's production back.

Navy preview

Well, the offensive blueprint isn't a secret. Navy has the most rushing yards and touchdowns of any program since 2008.

The Midshipmen finished with a top-20 offense and scored 34 points or more in all but four games last year. They'll have to compensate for some losses within the unit, as half of last year's production, including quarterback Malcolm Perry - who put up an FBS-record 2,017 rushing yards last season - is gone.

If Navy has any shot in this game, it'll need to make some plays against the pass. The secondary was one of the worst at allowing big gains in 2019, ranking No. 124 in yards per completion (14.3). However, the rush defense allowed just 3.2 yards per carry - better than Clemson, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Oregon.

Navy is certainly a regression candidate after going 10-3 against the spread. Can bettors at least trust the Midshipmen as a slight 'dog in Week 1?

Betting trends

• BYU is 23-9 ATS in its last 32 as a road underdog
• BYU is 7-2 to the under in its last nine September games
• BYU is 3-0-1 to the under in its last four against AAC opposition
• Navy is 5-0 ATS in its last five home contests
• Navy is 5-1 to the under in its last six as a home favorite

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.