BYU vs. Utah Prediction, Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl Preview

The BYU Cougars (9-3) and the Utah Utes (9-3) will be adding a unique chapter to their heated rivalry in Las Vegas. Check out the BYU vs. Utah prediction and game preview.

BYU vs. Utah Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Network: ABC

Follow and/or Contact @Rich Cirminiello

Why You Need To Care

Holy War in Sin City. The Las Vegas Bowl folks nailed this pairing between two rivals who’ve been on a break the past two seasons.

Pitting BYU and Utah together is a stroke of postseason brilliance, particularly since this rivalry is in the midst of its first hiatus since World War II. The fan bases hate one another, and are going to pack Sam Boyd Stadium to create a rare electrifying atmosphere for a December bowl game.

The Utes aren’t exactly thrilled by their destination, though it will help to see BYU across the field. For a flash in October, Utah looked as if it might carry the Pac-12 flag into the College Football Playoff. It was 6-0, having already beaten Michigan and Oregon in Eugene by six touchdowns, to elevate near the top of the rankings. The Utes, though, couldn’t sustain the excellence, splitting its final six games. Playoff hopes evaporated in Tucson on Nov. 14, and then a South Division lead slipped away for good in a loss to UCLA a week later. Still, by winning nine in each of the last two years Utah has proven it can compete at a high level in one of the nation’s deepest leagues.

The storylines in Vegas extend to the sidelines, where Bronco Mendenhall will be coaching his final game at BYU. After 11 seasons in Provo, he’s accepted the job at Virginia. Mendenhall was largely successful with the Cougars, winning 99 games, but never delivered that momentous occasion, like a top 10 finish or a major bowl invite. To be fair, the last two seasons were impacted by season-ending injuries to QB Taysom Hill. The leading man lasted just one game this year. Still, BYU rallied behind Tanner Mangum to win nine games, losing only to Power Five opponents, UCLA, Michigan and Mizzou.

Why BYU Will Win

The Cougars do a lot of things well, particularly on defense.

BYU is sort of a carbon copy of this week’s opponent, stout in the front seven and able to generate a ton of pressure in opposing backfields. The Cougars yield just five yards a play, thanks in large part to the push created by DE Bronson Kaufusi and LB Fred Warner. BYU has 90 stops for loss, 37 sacks and 15 interceptions. And it’ll be facing a Utah attack that struggles to throw the ball effectively, and will once again be without injured RB Devontae Booker, its best offensive threat.

Why Utah Will Win

The Cougars are very good in the trenches. The Utes, though, are better, including on offense.

Another year, another blue-collar, no-nonsense Kyle Whittingham team. Utah has played a tougher schedule than BYU, yet it’s allowed just 21.8 points per game. The Utes will have their way with a shaky Cougar O-line that’s given up 29 sacks. Lowell Lotulelei headlines a deep and physical group of tackles, while a healthy Hunter Dimick will rejoin Jason Fanaika, Kylie Fitts and Pita Taumoepenu on the edge. Utah is also No. 6 nationally in turnover creation, getting nine combined picks from First Team All-Pac-12 LB Gionni Paul and S Marcus Williams. This will be a tall order for BYU QB Tanner Mangum, whose play has not risen to the level of quality defenses.

Player Who Matters

Booker has played his last game with the Utes, the result of a knee injury. Now, the all-important running game rests on the shoulders of Joe Williams.

Williams, a transfer from ASA College in Brooklyn, N.Y., has played well in his first two starts. He’s rushed for 308 yards and a score on 60 carries, showcasing an even better second gear than Booker. Utah will need Williams to deliver against the solid BYU run defense, because QB Travis Wilson is an entirely different player when forced to do too much. The Utes are all about the run setting up the pass, with Williams getting a head start on being the feature back in 2016.

What’s Going To Happen?

If it’s the postseason, don’t bet against Utah and Whittingham.

Few coaches prepare better for bowls than Whittingham, who’s 8-1 in his career. Plus, he’s won four straight over Mendenhall. Not only will the Utes be a little stingier on D, but they’ll have a huge edge in special teams, an area in which the Cougars have struggled. While neither Williams nor Wilson will go crazy, they’ll outplay the backfield combination of Mangum and RB Algernon Brown to help guide Utah to the 10-win plateau.