Las Vegas Bowl 2014: Utah vs. Colorado State TV Info, Spread, Time, Injury News
The Utah Utes and Colorado State Rams have come full circle to collide in the 2014 Las Vegas Bowl.
The showdown promises to be one of the best pre-Christmas bowls on the slate.
Hard times are outdated for the Utes, a team that bounced back from a 5-7 2013 campaign to win eight games this year. The Rams put on an even more impressive feat with 10 wins this season despite a three-win performance in 2013.
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The Rams will be without now-former coach Jim McElwain as he takes over at the helm of the Florida Gators, but one of the nation's best offenses still has the talent to post points on a feared Utah defense.
If there is one game to catch before Christmas Day, this is it.
Tailbacks on the Loose
Part of the reason the Rams rank 22nd nationally in scoring offense has to do with the efforts of senior back Dee Hart.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide backup ran wild in his first real opportunity as starter this year and gained 1,254 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 6.7 per-carry average. Those numbers include seven 100-yard performances and touchdowns in as many games.
Utah's junior back Devontae Booker rounds out what may be one of the best backfield showdowns of the year.
Booker resembles something of a bowling ball out on the field at 5'11" and 203 yards. He proved an effective workhorse for the Utes this year, gaining 1,350 yards and nine touchdowns on a 5.1 per-carry average.
What is most impressive about Booker is his blatant refusal to go down. ESPN.com's Kevin Gemmell provided the gaudy numbers:
Booker comes up big when his team needs it the most and actually uses him. He gained 156 yards and a score against UCLA, 229 yards and three scores against Oregon State and 201 yards and a score against USC.
Both Hart and Booker will be in top form Saturday, so the globe is in for a treat.
War of Wills
Formerly known as a defensive power, Utah lost that title after a 51-27 drubbing at the hands of Oregon in early November.
Things are not so great from a total stat standpoint anymore, but there are a few key areas in which the Utes excel.
Led by surefire NFL first-round pick Nate Orchard, the Utes lead the nation in sacks at 4.3 per game and average 8.3 tackles for loss per game. The defense is a large part of the program-wide turnaround coach Kyle Whittingham spoke of recently, per STATS LLC, via ESPN.com:
"Seems like every week has come down to the last possession or even the last play at times. We're finding ways to win most of them and that's very encouraging, because the last couple years we were just the opposite of that. We were not finishing and finding ways to win those close games.
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Colorado State is no Oregon, but Hart combines with others to form one of the most potent offenses the Utes have seen all season.
Senior quarterback Garrett Grayson has 3,779 yards and 32 touchdowns to just six interceptions so far. His favorite target, sophomore wideout Rashard Higgins, has 89 receptions for 1,640 yards and 17 touchdowns. The next closest player on the list has caught 32 passes.
Higgins missed out on the Biletnikoff Award thanks to Alabama's Amari Cooper, but he has the talent on his lonesome to throw the Utah secondary for a loop.
A fine balance and lethal potency creates a serious issue for the Utes, a defense that has much to prove after recently surrendering 34 points to a 2-10 Colorado team.
When: Saturday, December 20, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Television: ABC
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 57
- Spread: Utah (-3.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Dres Anderson | WR | 10/29/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Tevin Carter | S | 11/11/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | hip |
| Uaea Masina | LB | 09/07/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | arm |
| Evan Moeai | TE | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Colorado State | Questionable | knee |
| Tim Patrick | WR | 11/09/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | leg |
| Gionni Paul | LB | 11/21/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | foot |
| Reginald Porter | CB | 08/15/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Kendal Thompson | QB | 11/09/2014 | is expected to miss the remainder of the season | Out | leg |
| Jake Bennett | C | 09/23/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Jordan Benson | T | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Questionable | leg |
| Bernard Blake | CB | 12/14/2014 | is probable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Probable | undisclosed |
| Kivon Cartwright | TE | 09/28/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | ankle |
| Aaron Davis | LB | 12/14/2014 | is probable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Probable | undisclosed |
| Joe Hansley | WR | 12/14/2014 | is probable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Probable | concussion |
| Mason Hathaway | OL | 08/22/2014 | is expected to miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Jake Schlager | S | 12/14/2014 | is questionable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Questionable | knee |
| Jordan Vaden | WR | 12/14/2014 | is probable for the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday against Utah | Probable | ankle |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
The problem with Colorado State, other than inflated stats thanks to its slot in the Mountain West Conference, is the loss of its head coach.
It is unknown how Hart and others will respond with offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin running the show, especially against one of the nation's most feared defenses.
Look for Booker to have a gigantic day against the Rams while junior quarterback Travis Wilson (17 touchdowns, four interceptions) continues to take great care of the football. The Utes can use a methodical approach to keep the Colorado State offense off the field, while the opportunistic defense creates even more opportunities to control the game.
Prediction: Utah 28, Colorado State 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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