2015-16 NCAA Football GMS Bowl Season Series ~ Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
The Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl features two teams that have absolutely no love loss for one another. The battle for Utah state supremacy will take place in Sin City. The game features two teams that have been here more than any others, and one team will leave a four time Las Vegas Bowl champion. With only 420 miles separating the teams to the field, you can fully expect a 50/50 crowd of Red and Blue. The game was officially sold out in less than twenty four hours.
Both Utah and BYU enter this contest with 9-3 marks. Utah struggled down the stretch, closing out the season with three wins and three loses, while BYU comes in hot, closing out they’re campaign winning seven of the last eight. This will mark the first time these old rivals will play in a post season contest against another.
Bowl: Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
Teams: BYU Cougars vs Utah Utes
Date/Time: December 19, 2015 – 3:30 PM EDT on ABC
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Vegas Line/Total: Utah -3 / O/U 53/5
Written by: Erik the Hun
9 – 3 Record – 8 – 4 Vs Spread Over – Under: 6 – 6 11/28/15 @ Utah State W 51-28 W -3 O 51 |
9 – 3 Record – 5 – 7 Vs Spread Over – Under: 6 – 6 11/28/15 Colorado W 20-14 L -16.5 U 48.5 |
January 2, 2009 – Sugar Bowl – Utah 31 – 17 Alabama |
December 18, 2010 – New Mexico Bowl – BYU 52 – 24 UTEP |
BYU OUTLOOK:
BYU will look to send 11 year coach Bronco Mendenhall out with a smile. Bronco is taking his 10 winning seasons and 11 bowl appearances to Virgina. He tallied an impressive 99-42 record at Brigham Young.
Freshman sensation Tanner Mangum stepped up admirably for the Cougars when Heisman hopeful Taysom Hill was sidelined for the year in the first half of the opening game at Nebraska. After getting his bearings through the first few games, he went on to set BYU freshman records with (3062 yds, 21 TD’s and 7 INT’s). Expect more of the same in Vegas.
The Cougars will try to keep a little balance in they’re lopsided attack by allowing Algernon Brown to shoulder some of the load (122-697 yds, and 13TD’s). The play action pass becomes a solid weapon when Tanner Mangum gets the passing game rolling.
Rangy and lanky wide receiver standout Mitch Mathews should find himself in the end zone on Saturday. Mathews (52-729 yds and 11 TD’s), has registered a score in over 66% of his appearances this season. With his 6’6, 215 pound frame, Mitch is an ideal target.
BYU’s defense has been a staple all season. Ranking in the top 50 in all four major categories (36th Total yds at 358.1), (50th vs the pass at 213.1 yds), (41st vs the run at 144.8 yds) and (31st in pts allowed at 21.8 per contest). Defensive stand-out Kai Nacua will look to record his 7th INT of the season(6 INT’s) and two returned for touchdowns.
UTAH OUTLOOK:
The Utah Utes will look to finish the 2015 campaign on a winning note for 11 year coach Kyle Whittingham, who has many ties to the BYU program. He was a Defensive line coach in 94′ and graduated to Defensive coordinator from 95′-04′. He has am impressive bowl resume since coming to Utah, going 8-1 over his last nine.
Starting QB Travis Wilson will try to lead a depleted Utes offensive attack. Wilson threw for(2023 yds and 13 TD’s and 10 INT’s), but they will need him to be a double-edged sword. Now that leading rusher Devonte Booker is out. Wilson will need to step it up in the running game as Utah’s second leading rusher(126-468 yds and 6 TD’s).
Two wide receivers with 35 catches or more, will try to compliment the passing game. Britain Covey, Utah’s leading receiver(41-518 yds and 4 TD’s) and Kenneth Scott(38-448 yds and 4 TD’s) will do they’re best to keep the Utes on the field.
The X-factor in this match-up resides right here. Two time Ray Guy Award winner, Tom Hackett, will look to keep the Cougars pinned deep. Hackett’s numbers are well deserving of the reward(20 punts inside the 20 yard line and 10 inside the opponents 10!). He is averaging nearly 48 yards a boot and has two of the nations longest punts this year at 76 and 72 yards.
Matchup Analysis & Prediction
Analysis:
Utah will look to use its defense to stymie the Cougar’s offensive attack, with their 6th ranked defense against the run, and the 32nd ranked defense in points allowed. Expect a heavy dose of Travis Wilson, on the ground and through the air to try to put points on the board by hook or by crook.
BYU will look to expose the average secondary for the UTES(97th nationally at 253.4 yds per game), by using their spread offense. Using occasional play action, from effective passing, could be the formula BYU will look to achieve. The Cougars will rely on a solid and steady dose of the reliable part of their team, the Defense. If the Cougars can get a consistent performance on offence, and another day at the office on defense, they might be able to be on the right side of this rivalry for the first time since 2009.
Prediction:
** To get further analysis from Ej the Rainmaker and Erik the Hun, check out our audio preview of the Las Vegas Bowl using the audio file below…
