Las Vegas Bowl 2015: BYU vs. Utah TV Schedule, Time and Odds
There won't be much in the way of love lost when the BYU Cougars and Utah Utes get together on Saturday in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.
The two teams, linked by Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and his counterpart, Bronco Mendenhall, have had plenty of success in 2015, leading to what feels like an extension of rivalry week into bowl season.
Just ask Utah defensive lineman Viliseni Fauonuku, who stoked the flames this week in front of both teams, calling BYU a "dirty team," as captured by KSL's Jeremiah Jensen:
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This one looks like the best of bowl season's opening weekend for other reasons, of course—namely, the on-field history between the programs, as ESPN College Football detailed:
So, yes, fans will want to set aside time for this one, which has the early signs of a classic. Here's everything to know about the game.
Game Details
When: Saturday, December 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas
Television: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Over/Under: 51.5
Spread: Utah (-2.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Bryan Sampson | TE | Out for season |
| Rhett Sandlin | LB | Out for season |
| Sione Takitaki | LB | Out for season |
| Phillip Amone | LB | Out for season |
| Taysom Hill | QB | Out for season |
| Steven Richards | TE | Out for season |
| Colby Jorgensen | TE | Out for season |
| Britain Covey | WR | Doub Sat |
| Kenneth Scott | WR | Ques Sat |
| Devontae Booker | RB | Out Sat |
| Chase Hansen | QB | Out for season |
| Tim Patrick | WR | Out for season |
| Evan Moeai | TE | Out for season |
| Jordan Fogal | DB | Out for season |
| Siale Fakailoatonga | TE | Out for season |
| Troy McCormick | RB | Out for season |
| Lo Falemaka | OL | Out indefinitely |
| Marcel Brooks-Brown | RB | Out indefinitely |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
Getting One for Mendenhall
Mendenhall's on his way to Virginia next season, but the Cougars want to get the longtime coach a win before he departs.
That's especially true in this particular game, considering Whittingham owns the head-to-head encounters as of late, winning four of the past six.
BYU finished 9-3 this year for Mendenhall, rallying around backup quarterback Tanner Mangum after Taysom Hill went down with an injury in the opener. Mangum responded by completing 62.1 percent of his passes with 3,062 yards and 21 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
He's also remained quite cool under the pressure of a game dubbed the "Holy War" and a strong opposing defense.
"You can let it be a distraction, or you can set it aside," Mangum said, according to Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "It comes down to us as a team, as players focusing on what we can control, focusing on the task at hand and not worrying about things that are yet to come."
It's a smooth approach for the surprise starter, who now has to contend with a defense that has permitted opponents more than 20 points just five times.
He'll need the smooth talk and efficient play to translate to the field Saturday against a team that was at one point ranked third in the nation.
Filling the Void
Utah lost the No. 3 rank near the end of October via a 42-24 beatdown at the hands of USC.
The loss not only slashed up a six-game streak to start the season, including wins over two ranked teams, but it started a .500 downward spiral over the team's final six games, highlighted by losing star running back Devontae Booker.
Booker left the field with 1,261 rushing yards and 11 scores and the majority of the offense's controls in the hands of senior quarterback Travis Wilson, whom he had protected from major responsibilities while healthy.
Forced to shoulder a bigger load of production over the team's final four games, Wilson responded by leading the team to a 2-2 record with a trio of touchdowns and interceptions while rushing at least 10 times in each game.
For his part, Wilson doesn't sound fazed by the spotlight of the matchup, either.
"We get to go to a bowl game for the second year in a row so it's another opportunity where we get to play one more game," Wilson said, according to ESPN.com. "For me, I just want to end my season on a high note and play the best game I can."
Now the team's quarterback and active leading rusher, Wilson has to attempt to thwart a defense that has allowed more than 20 points once in its last five games and an offense that has posted 51 or more points in two consecutive games.
Prediction
This one's going to Whittingham, folks.
The man not only owns the series against his departing counterpart, but he touts an 8-1 record in bowl games compared to Mendenhall's 6-4. It's not the perfect argument by any means, but a 6-4 record shows a certain struggle to prepare players for December games. And how prepared can a team be when its coach already has one foot and then some out the door?
No, this one's going to Utah, a team hungry to prove an iffy end of the season wasn't indicative of its quality. Look for the defense to hold strong and keep an inferior offense sporting a backup quarterback under center in check.
Prediction: Utes 24, Cougars 21
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.
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