Utah may have limped to the finish line, but a bowl game against BYU could spell good things to end the season for the Utes as they are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games against the Cougars. Utah and BYU will meet for football supremacy in the state of Utah when they clash in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 19th.
- The favorite is 0-5 ATS in the past five games between Utah and BYU.
- Utah is 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in their past nine games in December.
- Magnum is just the 13th freshman to ever throw for 3,000-plus passing yards.
The biggest variable in this game is the health of Utah star running back Devontae Booker. The senior missed the final two games of the season with a knee injury that will reportedly take four-to-six weeks to heal, which could put him in jeopardy to miss the game.
The Las Vegas Bowl will be the last game that Bronco Mendenhall coaches BYU as he has accepted the head coaching vacancy at Virginia. The Cougars offense has been amazing this season (averaging 37.0 ppg) despite starting freshman Tanner Magnum at quarterback. After Taysom Hill’s injury, Magnum stepped in to throw 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Utah Utes were listed as a 3-point favorites at sportsbooks such as Sportsbook on the college football lines menu and that has remained unchanged since. Sportsbook has opened the total at 54 for the game, but that has fallen to 51.5.
Handicapping prediction models run by the computers at OddsShark pick a 32-29 result in favor of the Cougars. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
For in-depth analysis of the Royal Purple Las Vegas and it's history, click here.
BYU Cougars vs Utah Utes Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Utah bring a 9-3 record (5-7 ATS) to the Week P betting matchup against the 9-3 BYU Cougars, who are 8-4 ATS against the spread. Over under betting has seen Utah go 6-6 so far and the Cougars go 6-6. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Utah vs BYU injuries news.
The game pits the Utah Utes, currently No. 42 in our Odds Shark NCAA Football Power Rankings, against the BYU Cougars, who rate No. 34 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Utah Utes No. 58-ranked offense (30.25 PPG) against a BYU Cougars defense that ranks No. 31 at 21.83 PPG. The Utah Utes passing attack has averaged 188.92 yards per game, less than the BYU Cougars give up through the air (213.25 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the BYU Cougars own the league's No. 85-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 198.33 yards per game when on the road. Utah, on the other hand, rates No. 69 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Last time out, Utah State could not slow down Mitch Mathews, who managed 158 receiving yards in the Cougars 51-28 victory over the Aggies Saturday.
In their last game, Utah got a 187-yard performance from Joe Williams as a key part of its 20-14 win over Colorado.
