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 thatâs as much about territorial pride as it is basketball. Letâs break down why the Cowboys are favored to leave with the trophyâand 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. Thatâs 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 doesnât take a backseat to offenseâthough Wyomingâs 49.2% shooting (vs. SDSUâs 45.7%) and Nasir Meyerâs 41.7% three-point prowess could turn this into a shootout.
South Dakota Stateâs defense allows just 40.2% shooting, better than Wyomingâs 41.4% defensive average. But hereâs the rub: Wyomingâs offense is a well-oiled cattle drive, while SDSUâs 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 Wyomingâs Leland Walker, who dishes out 14.1 points and four assists per game. Wyomingâs balanced attack makes them a menace SDSUâs porous field goal defense canât ignore.
Digest the News: Health, or Lack Thereof
No major injuries mar this matchupâWyomingâs roster is as healthy as a bison in a vaccine line. South Dakota Stateâs Jaden Jackson hasnât tripped over any metaphorical (or literal) shoelaces, so his 11.9 PPG should stay intact. The only drama comes from the womenâs side: Wyomingâs Cowgirls got thoroughly outshot by Minnesota (30% to 56%), but letâs not hold that against the men. Their loss is a reminder that Wyomingâs basketball programs have the emotional range of a wet cardboard boxâbut at least the menâs team doesnât shoot like a sieve.
Humorous Spin: Cowboys, Jackrabbits, and the Great Toenail Heist of â25
Imagine Wyomingâs offense as a cowboy sharpshooter: cool, calculated, and never missing a three-pointer (well, 41.7% of the time, anyway). South Dakota Stateâs defense is a locked vaultâuntil Wyomingâs Nasir Meyer, a human cannonball from beyond the arc, blows the door open with his 1.5 triples per game. Meanwhile, SDSUâs offense is like a jackrabbit on a coffee bingeâfast, frenetic, and prone to tripping over its own paws.
The Jackrabbitsâ home-court advantage? The Sanford Pentagon is a fancy arena, but can it protect them from Wyomingâs Leland Walker, a play-caller so smooth he could lube up a stuck doorknob? And letâs not forget Joe Sayler, SDSUâs three-point specialist, whoâs averaged 1.9 triples in 10 games. Thatâs like having a sniper who only fires every other day.
Prediction: The Ballad of the Beaten Path
Wyomingâs superior shooting, balanced scoring, and Walkerâs playmaking make them the clear choice. South Dakota Stateâs defense will grit their teeth and force some tough shots, but their offense lacks the firepower to keep up. The Cowboysâ 49.2% field goal percentage will outmuscle SDSUâs 45.7%, and Meyerâs three-point daggers will puncture any hope of a Jackrabbit rally.
Final Verdict: Lay the points on Wyoming. Theyâll win by ~7, which is just enough to avoid a âmehâ reaction from fans and make the spread look like a bet you actually know what youâre doing. Unless SDSUâs jackrabbits develop a taste for long-range bombs, this oneâs a Cowboy coronation.
Pick: Wyoming -5.5
Total: Under 148.5 (Because defense wins championships, and SDSUâs D will turn this into a low-scoring tussle.)
Now go bet like youâre roping in a championshipâgracefully, confidently, and with zero regard for the Jackrabbitsâ feelings.
Created: Dec. 15, 2025, 6:57 p.m. GMT