Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
BYU vs. Utah
Las Vegas | Sam Boyd Stadium
3:30 pm EST on ABC
Utah started their season at 6 and 0 and was ranked 6th in the nation in most polls. However, after their first loss to the Trojans of USC losing by 18 points, the Utes had a mediocre rest of the season going 3 and 2.
Utah’s overall success starts with their senior helmsman Travis Wilson. Travis Wilson, who has started since his true freshman season, is the school record holder for games played (45) and started (38) at quarterback. He ranks second in career wins (23). Wilson is 8-3 in 11 starts this season (he missed the Fresno State game with an injury) and 23-15 in his career. He has completed 186-of-298 (62.4%) pass attempts for 2,024 yards and 13 touchdowns (10 INT). The helmsman leads the Pac-12 with a 235.86 quarterback rating in the red zone, completing 10 of 16 passes (62.5%) for 79 yards and seven touchdown passes (1 INT). The youngster is second Utah’s second-leading rusher with 125 attempts for 467 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks second among Pac-12 quarterbacks in rushing yards per game (42.5).
The other offensive players that compliment Wilson are backup rusher Joe Williams and slot receiver Britain Covey. Williams has played in nine games with one start (Colorado) and has 79 carries for 386 yards (4.9 average). He also has nine receptions for 62 receiving yards and is tied for fourth on the team with 448 all-purpose yards. In the month of November, he was third in the Pac-12 in yards per game from scrimmage (129.7) and fourth in rushing yards per game (115.0). True freshman slot receiver Britain Covey, Utah’s leading receiver and the best freshman wide out in the Pac-12, missed the regular-season finale with Colorado due to injury. His status for the bowl game is to be determined. Covey has played in 11 games with eight starts and leads Utah with 41 receptions, 518 yards and four touchdowns (tied). He is averaging 12.6 yards per catch.
These statistics tell you how good the Utah Defense is:
No. 2 Pac-12 in kick return defense (20.57)
No. 2 Pac-12 in first downs allowed (232).
No. 2 Pac-12 in total defense (365.2).
No. 2 Pac-12 in scoring defense (21.8).
No. 2 Pac-12 in red zone defense (81.0%, 34-of-42).
No. 2 Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (10).
No. 2 Pac-12 in fourth-down conversions (70.0, 14-of-20).
No. 3 Pac-12 in tackles for loss (7.2/game).
No. 3 Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense (120.33).
No. 3 Pac-12 in fewest penalties (65).
No. 3 Pac-12 in defensive touchdowns (3).
Byu has almost the same statistics as Utah in the major categories.
BYU O
Offensive Rankings
Category ………………………….. Avg. ……….NCAA
Rushing Offense ………………… 133.1 ………107
Passing Offense ………………… 294.9 ………21
Pass Efficiency Offense ………. 141.85 …….37
Total Offense …………………….. 428.0 ………44
Scoring Offense …………………. 34.2 ………..35
BYU Defensive Rankings
Category ………………………….. Avg. ……….NCAA
Rushing Defense ……………….. 145.3 ………42
Passing Defense ……………….. 212.8 ………49
Pass Efficiency Defense ……… 112.80 …….23
Total Defense …………………….. 358.1 ………36
Scoring Defense ………………… 21.8 ………..3
The only difference is the Cougars have won 7 out of their last 8 games.
The Bottom Line: The “ice breaker” is that Utah’s strength of schedule is much better than Byu’s.
2015 Utah Schedule & Results
9.3 (Thu.) …… Michigan (FOX Sports 1) …………….. W, 24-17
9.11 (Fri.) ……. Utah State (ESPN2) …………………… W, 24-14
9.19 ……………. at Fresno State (CBSSN) ……………. W, 45-24
9.26 …………… at Oregon* (FOX) ………………………. W, 62-20
10.10 (HC) …. California* (ESPN) …………………….. W, 30-24
10.17 ………….. Arizona State* (ESPN) ……………….. W, 34-18
10.24 ………….. at USC* (FOX) ………………………….. L, 42-24
10.31 ………….. Oregon State* (P12N) ………………… W, 27-12
11.7 ……………. at Washington* (FOX) ………………… W, 34-23
11.14 ………….. at Arizona* (FOX Sports 1) ………….. L, 37-30 (2OT)
11.21 ………….. UCLA* (FOX) ……………………………. L, 17-9
11.28 ………….. Colorado* (P12N) ………………………. W, 20-14
BYU Schedule/Results (9-3)
Date ….. Opponent ………………………….. Time/Result
9-5 ……. at Nebraska………………………… W, 33-28
9-12 ….. Boise State…………………………. W, 35-24
9-19 ….. at UCLA……………………………… L, 24-23
9-26 ….. at Michigan…………………………. L, 31-0
10-2 ….. UConn ……………………………….. W, 30-13
10-10 … East Carolina ……………………… W, 45-38
10-16 … Cincinnati …………………………… W, 38-24
10-24 … Wagner ……………………………… W, 70-6
11-6 …… at San Jose State………………… W, 17-16
11-14 …. vs. Missouri ………………………… L, 20-16
11-21 …. Fresno State ………………………. W, 52-10
11-28 …. Utah State ………………………….. W, 51-2
UTAH is 13-9 against the spread versus BYU since 1992
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Selection: Utah -2
