Prediction: Wyoming Cowboys VS South Dakota St Jackrabbits 2025-12-15

Wyoming Cowboys vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits: A Clash of Claws and Hooves

The Wyoming Cowboys (-150) and South Dakota State Jackrabbits (+200) meet in Sioux Falls for a non-conference clash that’s as much about territorial pride as it is basketball. Let’s break down why the Cowboys are favored to leave with the trophy—and why the Jackrabbits might try to eat it in a fit of frustration.

Parse the Odds: A Numbers Game
The odds imply Wyoming has a 60% chance to win, while South Dakota State clings to a 40% shot. That’s the difference between a well-aimed lasso and a jackrabbit trying to tie its own shoelaces. The spread is set at 5.5 points, meaning bookmakers expect Wyoming to win by a comfortable margin. The total is 148.5, suggesting a game where defense doesn’t take a backseat to offense—though Wyoming’s 49.2% shooting (vs. SDSU’s 45.7%) and Nasir Meyer’s 41.7% three-point prowess could turn this into a shootout.

South Dakota State’s defense allows just 40.2% shooting, better than Wyoming’s 41.4% defensive average. But here’s the rub: Wyoming’s offense is a well-oiled cattle drive, while SDSU’s offense is… a jackrabbit in a hailstorm. The Jackrabbits average 74.3 points, but their top scorer, Jaden Jackson (11.9 PPG), is no match for Wyoming’s Leland Walker, who dishes out 14.1 points and four assists per game. Wyoming’s balanced attack makes them a menace SDSU’s porous field goal defense can’t ignore.

Digest the News: Health, or Lack Thereof
No major injuries mar this matchup—Wyoming’s roster is as healthy as a bison in a vaccine line. South Dakota State’s Jaden Jackson hasn’t tripped over any metaphorical (or literal) shoelaces, so his 11.9 PPG should stay intact. The only drama comes from the women’s side: Wyoming’s Cowgirls got thoroughly outshot by Minnesota (30% to 56%), but let’s not hold that against the men. Their loss is a reminder that Wyoming’s basketball programs have the emotional range of a wet cardboard box—but at least the men’s team doesn’t shoot like a sieve.

Humorous Spin: Cowboys, Jackrabbits, and the Great Toenail Heist of ’25
Imagine Wyoming’s offense as a cowboy sharpshooter: cool, calculated, and never missing a three-pointer (well, 41.7% of the time, anyway). South Dakota State’s defense is a locked vault—until Wyoming’s Nasir Meyer, a human cannonball from beyond the arc, blows the door open with his 1.5 triples per game. Meanwhile, SDSU’s offense is like a jackrabbit on a coffee binge—fast, frenetic, and prone to tripping over its own paws.

The Jackrabbits’ home-court advantage? The Sanford Pentagon is a fancy arena, but can it protect them from Wyoming’s Leland Walker, a play-caller so smooth he could lube up a stuck doorknob? And let’s not forget Joe Sayler, SDSU’s three-point specialist, who’s averaged 1.9 triples in 10 games. That’s like having a sniper who only fires every other day.

Prediction: The Ballad of the Beaten Path
Wyoming’s superior shooting, balanced scoring, and Walker’s playmaking make them the clear choice. South Dakota State’s defense will grit their teeth and force some tough shots, but their offense lacks the firepower to keep up. The Cowboys’ 49.2% field goal percentage will outmuscle SDSU’s 45.7%, and Meyer’s three-point daggers will puncture any hope of a Jackrabbit rally.

Final Verdict: Lay the points on Wyoming. They’ll win by ~7, which is just enough to avoid a “meh” reaction from fans and make the spread look like a bet you actually know what you’re doing. Unless SDSU’s jackrabbits develop a taste for long-range bombs, this one’s a Cowboy coronation.

Pick: Wyoming -5.5
Total: Under 148.5 (Because defense wins championships, and SDSU’s D will turn this into a low-scoring tussle.)

Now go bet like you’re roping in a championship—gracefully, confidently, and with zero regard for the Jackrabbits’ feelings.

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