Utah coach Kyle Whittingham considers a 2015 Pac-12 South co-championship both an achievement for the program and a missed opportunity. The Utes regret November losses to Arizona and UCLA that kept them from overtaking USC in the standings and playing in their first conference championship game. But they’ve advanced to a point where they’re in the conversation among the South’s upper crust.
Utah Utes Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Utes Over 7.5 Wins +100
Utes Under 7.5 Wins -120
2015 UTAH UTES SEASON REVIEW
A season opening win over Michigan and a drubbing of Oregon in Eugene were part of a 6-0 start that got the Utes as high as No. 3 in the national rankings. Pac-12 championship and College Football Playoff talk was rampant in Salt Lake City as Utah enjoyed a marvelous run to start the year and transformed into a team other Pac-12 clubs did not want to face.
A frustrating loss at USC put a wrinkle in the South Division title hopes and they disappeared with back-to-back losses to Arizona and UCLA. A close win over Colorado in the regular season finale clinched a share of the school’s first Pac-12 South Division title, though the Utes lost out on a trip to the conference title game due to their earlier loss to the Trojans.
Utah matched up opposite its Holy War rival BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl and forced five straight Cougar turnovers in the first quarter – scoring on all of them – and held on to beat its in-state neighbor 35-28.
WHAT CHANGED
The discussion about Utah begins the same every year. The Utes’ defense compares favorably to any group in the Pac-12, so if their offense improves, they will challenge for the South title. And that’s a big if, considering four-year starting quarterback Travis Wilson is gone. So is his backup Kendall Thompson.
Devontae Booker, the third-leading rusher in school history, was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by Denver. Last year’s leading receiver Britain Covey left for his Mormon mission and three-year starter Kenneth Scott exhausted his eligibility. That’s nearly 88 percent of the total offense gone from 2015.
2016 UTAH UTES REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Sep. 1: vs. Southern Utah
Sep. 10: vs. BYU
Sep. 17: at San Jose State
Sep. 23: vs. USC
Oct. 1: at California
Oct. 8: vs. Arizona
Oct. 15: at Oregon State
Oct. 22: at UCLA
Oct. 29: vs. Washington
Nov. 10: at Arizona State
Nov. 19: vs. Oregon
Nov. 26: at Colorado
2016 UTAH UTES SEASON PREVIEW
Coming off their best season since joining the league – finishing 10-3 overall, earning a bowl victory and claiming a top 25 ranking for the second consecutive season. The ingredients are in place for another memorable season. Utah is strong once again defensively. The biggest mystery is how the offense will perform once the bell rings.
The Utes will miss Wilson’s running ability but hope to expand their passing game with any of three contenders for the quarterback position. Troy Williams is a top junior college recruit after throwing for 2,750 yards, 31 touchdowns and just four interceptions during his sophomore season at Santa Monica College. Brandon Cox and Tyler Huntley are also in the mix.
Utah is going to be strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Typically that’s a recipe for success. However, there are concerns with the offense having to replace vital pieces. The defense also loses two stars at linebacker.
The schedule is another factor. The Utes will have a decent shot at opening the season 3-0 in non-conference play. The biggest threat to that happening is a home game against BYU, who will be out for revenge. They have to play five conference road games this year instead of four and three of their four home games are against the best teams in the Pac-12. It’s a lot to overcome with so many question marks.
College Football Odds: Utah Utes Under 7.5 Wins
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