The Utah Running Utes -20.5 at BookMaker for 10-stars
Posted at 7:11 EST Friday Night...Get the 20.5.....
The UTE Defense travels.
Special Teams Means Something in Utah (worth 4 points at least).
And we have the 3rd highest scoring team in the Nation on our side.
Why is this line so low?
Wyoming tends to be a bug-a-boo for favorites (see Tennessee: HA!), and Utah looked pretty pedestrian against Pitt in a fairly VISIBLE game earlier in the season. Past perceptions and recent mediocrity has stunted the market during the latter part of this week. Other than that there is no reason to argue against a 41-7 or 45-10 final.
Wyoming lost 22-10 last year and the Utah QB had a season low in yardage in that game, but the Wyoming defensive line was much better last season, so the 4 returning starters in the Cowboy secondary aren't getting the support they need to repat last season's stellar numbers.
Why?
WYOMING HAS ONE OF THE SMALLEST D-LINES IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW.
*Fade any defense that sports TWO DE's in the 240 pound range when they're supported by TWO DT's in the 270-280 range.
Or simply fade a defense that allows 250 yards rushing per game (5.39 yards per carry).
Utah is averaging 5.46 yards per rush and has allowed ONE sack this season. The line is boasting 300 pounders across the board, so I'm wondering where that Cowboy defense is going to find any success.
When there is a variance of this size in the trenches, then the only thing that's going to stop us on this 20.5 would be negative yardage plays and special teams fiascos. But the speed in all three phases of the game are in our favor, and if the D-line can't gain penetration on it's own then the Cowboys will have to subtract from the secondary to stop the run. Utah will butcher them in the air if they bring both safeties closer to the line.
We have a top scoring offense with a stellar special teams rotation facing one of the worst all around teams in the nation. I'm sure there are a few esoteric ways to argue for a close game between the Utes and the Cowboys, but I haven't seen the basis for it.
UTAH can execute in EVERY phase.....
We should only take HUGE favorites if they can outclass the dog in every phase. We have that.
It's as simple as that...the line should be -31