SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 LAS VEGAS BOWL, Las Vegas, Nevada 3:30 ET ABC
UTAH 9-3 VS BRIGHAM YOUNG 9-3
How about we rename this the Mormon Bowl, although its not exactly clear how these two conservative schools that both prohibit alcohol consumption on campus ended up in Sin City for their bowl. Go figure! The battle between intra-state rivals BYU and Utah is also something of a grudge match to say the least. Unofficially, a lot of folks in the state of UTAH refer to these games as Holy Wars. If you have been following the news items out of Vegas this week it is clear that some players on both teams do not like each other either. The COUGARS have already been labeled as “dirty players” by some UTES. BYU has double motivation to win this game: It is BRONCO MENDENHALL’s final game as HC before he leaves to take overa t Virginia, while the UTES dropped the rivalry match from it’s yearly schedule just this decade to schedule games with MICHIGAN.
Another factor that should make this a solid watch is the statistical fact that the teams are pretty evenly matched. Neither one had a great season, but both are in my Top 25, though nearer the bottom than top. They also have some very similar strengths and weaknesses. BYU ranks 43rd overall in Total Offense, while UTAH is down at 81st. BYU ranks 36th overall in Defense, while UTAH ranked 41st. Some of those numbers probably tighten up further given that UTAH played in the tough PAC-12, while BYU is an Independent. The schedule this season was considerably tougher on the whole for UTAH, in this man’s opinion.
Quality at the QB position is a plus for both sides. BYU’s projected starting QB TAYSOM HILL went down in the opener with a knee injury, after missing much of last year with a broken leg. In stepped TANNER MANGUM who had been on a Mission until last Spring. The emphasis changed from a running attack to a passing attack and MANGUM was a star. He threw for for 21 TD, with only 7 INT and completed 62.1% of his throws. The COUGARS ranked 21st in the nation in passing Offense. He had 5 players catch over 30 balls on the season. UTAH with senior TRAVIS WILSON at the helm, ranked 95th in passing nationally though WILSON had a solid 62.4% completion percentage. The drop-off for WILSON was the fact that he had 10 INT to go with his 13 TD throws. The UTES also suffered a huge loss, this one late in the season, when RB/DEVONTAE BOOKER went down to injury after having gained 1261 yards rushing, as well as catching 37 balls. In essence we have two good QB facing up against Defenses that ranked 49th (BYU) and 92nd (UTAH) against the pass.
Both Defenses have some future NFL players, most notably BYU DE BRONSON KAUFUSI, who ghas second-day potential, but perhaps the most dynamic defender to watch looks like a poor fit for the NFL because of his size. Despite racking up 109 tackles the disruptive UTES ROVER/GIONNI PAUL stands 5’10/225 lbs. You should hear his name called many times in this contest, and I suspect he’ll be just tall enough to fit nicely in the CFL as a LB. I’m thinking the UTES will feel right at home playing against a passing attack like BYU has, and their talent edge may prevail. It could also be a major factor that even though BYU is solid in their Kicking game, UTAH is exceptional. Rugby style PUNTER TOM HACKETT is a consensus All-American for the 2nd straight year after averaging 47.8 yards per punt on 55 punts, which included 24 punts being downed inside the 20. He may have a legit shot to be the NFL’s first rugby style punter next year. PK ANDY PHILLIPS is also top notch having scored 111 points this sean, while hitting 23/27 FG attempts. Give me the UTES by a thin 3 points in a game that should present a little bit of everything for your early Holiday Season viewing pleasure.
Prospects to watch:
UTAH BYU
#2 KENNETH SCOTT/WR 6’3/208 #10 MITCH MATTHEWS/WR 6’6/215
#7 TRAVIS WILSON/QB 6’7/235 #22 MANOA PIKULA/LB 6’1/235
#9 TEVIN CARTER/S 6’2/220 #19 DEVON BLACKMON/WR 6’1/185
#33 TOM HACKETT/P 5’11/195 #72 RYKER MATTHEWS/OT 6’6/320
#41 JARED NORRIS/LB 6’2 240 #91 TRAVIS TUILOMA/DT 6’2/285 JR
#51 JASON FANAIKA/DE 6’3/270 #90 BRONSON KAUFUSI/DE 6’7/265
#60 SAIOSI AIONO/C 6’2/305 #10 MITCH MATHEWS/WR/6-6/215
BONUS COVERAGE: While the players in the Vegas bowl might not end up having a ton of fun off the field, figure that Sun Belt champion Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech, which produced the likes of good ole boy Terry Bradshaw, not to mention our old friend Billy Ryckman, may at least check out the sights in the Bayou when the play in the New Orleans Bowl. And while the Arkansas State State-Louisiana Tech match-up will hardly be a classic, there will be a number of intriguing prospects on the field especially for the Bulldogs. QB Jeff Driskel (#6, 6-3, 235), the one-time starter at Florida, likely will get some late-round or free agent interest, while RB Kenneth Dixon (#28, 5-9, 215), who ran for almost 1,000 yards and 17 scores this year despite missing a couple of games, is one of the better all-around backs in the country after catching 28 passes including 5 for scores. The Bulldogs best prospect though appears to be emerging DT Vernon Butler (#9, 6-2, 310) is a disruptive interior defender who currently looks to have a mid-third round grade. Louisiana Tech also has a couple of decent later round/free agent type corners in Adairus Barnes (#21, 5-10, 190) and Kentrell Brice (#23, 5-10, 200). On the other hand, Arkansas State doesn’t have anyone who looks to be a lock to be drafted in 2016, although TE Darion Griswold (#19, 6-5, 265) and WR J.D. McKissic (#23, 5-9, 185) could draw some late-round interest, while RB Michael Gordon (#34, 5-9, 205) and CB Rocky Hayes (#3, 5-10, 185) are productive collegiate veterans who could get some free-agent calls.
Hard to imagine that anybody outside the state is going to be all that thrilled to be in Albuquerque for the cleverly named New Mexico Bowl (2 PM ET; ESPN) between Arizona (6-6) and New Mexico (7-5). Certainly, Arizona had much bigger expectations heading into the season such that the trip to the New Mexico game may feel more like punishment rather than a consolation prize. On the other hand, the Lobos are just happy to be in any bowl at all after being shutout of the post season since 2007. The one group outside the Lobos who just might be happy enough to be in Albuquerque are the pro scouts in attendance as they are hoping to get one last look at star Arizona junior LB Scoobie Wright, the DPOY in college football in 2014 who barely played this season because of a knee injury. However, Wright hopes to be back on the field on Saturday for one last chance to impress if, as expected, he declares for the 2016 draft despite the injury plagued campaign. The Wildcats also have a couple of later round prospects in OT Lene Malava (#77, 6-5, 300) and DE Reggie Gilbert (#8, 6-3, 265), while junior WR Cayleb Jones (#1, 6-3, 215) is another quality underclassmen with second-day potential. For its part, New Mexico is led by versatile RB Jhurrell Presley (#8, 5-9, 200).
Along with conference champion Arkansas State, the first day on the bowl schedule has a real Sun Belt flavor to it as the league has two other teams – Appalachian State (10-2) and Georgia State (6-6) – also on the docket. Appalachian State, for example, plays Ohio (8-4) in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery (5:30 PM ET), while GSU has a date with San Jose State (5-7) in the Cure Bowl in Orlando (7 PM ET; CBS Sports). Appalachian State has a couple of solid prospects in DE Ronald Blair (#49, 6-3, 275), who had 7.5 sacks this year and has been invited to the Shrine all-star game, along with veteran safety Doug Middleton (#21, 6-0, 210), while Ohio’s best prospect is CB Ian Wells (#41, 5-9, 205) although he’s likely no more than a fringe free agent candidate. Meanwhile, not sure what the Cure Bowl is supposed to actually cure, but it could start with what’s wrong with the a bowl system that has a sub-.500 Mountain West team on the schedule and a 6-6 Sun Belt squad. However, at least SJSU does have a nice college back in scatback Tyler Ervin (#7, 5-10, 180), who ran for almost 1,500 yards and caught 44 passes, while also contributing as a kick returner; they also have a decent corner in Jimmy Pruitt (#8, 5-10, 205), while Georgia State is led by underrated QB Nick Arbuckle (#4, 6-1, 210) who threw for over 4,000 yards this fall.
