The No. 23 Utah Utes (8-4) and the Colorado State Rams (10-2) get together for the opportunity to win the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday. The game will begin Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on ABC.
Colorado State barely lost to Air Force 27-24 in its last game. Rashard Higgins had a huge game in the loss, totaling 12 catches for 193 yards and two TDs. Garrett Grayson had a big game as well, totaling 366 yards and three TDs through the air. Utah beat Colorado 38-34 in its last game. Kaelin Clay had a big game for the Utes, hauling in 10 passes for 88 yards and two TDs. Travis Wilson also had a big day, contributing 311 yards and three TDs through the air.
The Rams, a four-point underdog, will be looking to hold down their home field when Utah comes to town. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of 58 points. Heading into Week 17 of the college football season, the Rams are 10-2 Straight Up (SU) and 8-4 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last five games, the Rams have records of 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS. They come into the game with the 19th-ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging 35.9 points per game. Chances are Colorado State will keep the ball in the air. They have America’s eighth-ranked passing attack, averaging 326.2 yards per game. Crossing over to the defensive side of the ball, the Rams look to have a distinct advantage in certain spots. The Utes probably won’t throw the ball very often at Colorado State. They are one of the least-effective passing teams on the road, averaging 152 passing yards per away game. Utah should put the Rams away early because the Utes are one of the worst in the country at allowing points in the fourth quarter. So far this year, they’ve given up an average of 10.5 fourth-quarter points to close the game out.
On the other side, the Utes have 8-4 SU and ATS records this season. Over their last five games, the Utes have a SU and ATS record of 2-3 for those betting with them. The Rams are matching up with Utah’s defense at an inopportune time. Over the last five games, Utah’s opponents have only averaged 217.4 yards through the air. The Utes have been embarrassing their opponents’ offensive line this year. Utah’s defense leads the country with an average of four sacks per game. The Utes could take advantage of Colorado State’s reputation to run out of gas late in games. They are 101st in Division I in fourth-quarter points allowed at home with 8.7. Special teams usually provides a spark for Utah when they play on the road. They average the eighth-most road return yards in the land with 53.2.
Predictions: SU Winner – UTAH, ATS Winner – COLST, O/U – Over
Notes
Utah is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games.
Colorado State is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Utah’s last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado State’s last 5 games.
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado State.
Colorado State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Utah.
Colorado State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Utah.
Utah is 4-1 SU when leading at the half this season. Colorado State is 7-0 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Utah is 6-2 SU when leading at the start of the 4th quarter this season. Colorado State is 7-0 SU when leading after three quarters.
Based on overall FBS ratings, Colorado State holds the upper hand in the passing game. Its passing attack (ranked eighth in the nation) will face the 92nd-ranked pass defense of Utah, while its 66th-ranked pass defense will look to limit the 92nd-ranked passing game of the Utes.
According to overall FBS team rankings, Utah is rated higher in the ground game on both sides of the ball. Its 54th-ranked rushing attack will face the 89th-ranked run defense of Colorado State, while its 56th-ranked rush defense will look to contain the 57th-ranked running game of the Rams.
Utah has allowed 21.8 points per game on the road, which is ranked 17th in the nation. Colorado State has put up 43.2 points per game at home (ranked 13th in FBS).
