Fresno State 2018 Betting Preview: A Real Mountain West Contender
Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Fresno State’s Mike Bell
Fresno State 2018 Betting Odds
- To win the Mountain West: +595
- To win the West Division: +145
- Win Total: 8 (over -105, under -125)
All lines as of Aug. 16. Always shop for the best line.
Fresno State 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds
The Action Network Projected Wins: 8.1
Bet To Watch
Fresno State to win the Mountain West +750
Nobody saw Jeff Tedford and Fresno State coming in 2017. The Bulldogs took the Mountain West by storm thanks to an offensive line that ranked second in the nation in adjusted sack rate and a defense that ranked second overall against explosiveness.
The Bulldogs should be highly rated in those areas again this year, as they rank 12th overall in returning production; plenty of players are back on the offensive line, at receiver and in the backfield.
Plus, quarterback Marcus McMaryion returns under center after racking up more than 2,700 yards to go along with a 14/5 TD/INT ratio.
There is a new defensive coordinator, as former DC Orlondo Steinauer has returned to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL. Bert Watts, who served as linebacker coach last season, was promoted to coordinator and will use the same scheme implemented by Steinauer.
The win total (8) will likely come down to games against rising Power 5 teams UCLA and Minnesota, so instead I'm looking at a different bet.
I like the value on Fresno State to win the Mountain West (+750). Determining home field for the conference title game was a mess for the Mountain West in 2017, but no matter where the game is played, the Bulldogs should have a seat at the table.
Boise State is the class of the conference, but the Broncos and Bulldogs are in different divisions, so they might meet again to decide the league title. Boise won 17-14 in 2017.
What else you need to know about Fresno State
The Bulldogs should easily reach another bowl in 2018, but they're 1-7 ATS in their last eight bowls dating back to 2005.
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