Utah Utes 2016 NCAA Football Preview
UTAH UTES
PAC-12 Conference – North Division
2015 Record – 10-3
ATS – 6-7
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
South Division #1
Conference #3
2015 Recap
Utah has fit in just fine in the PAC 12 going 19-7 the past two seasons which includes eleven wins within the conference. Last year they had a 10-3 season capped off with a bowl win over hated rival BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. They were on fumes hanging on to win after leading 35-0 but a win is a win is a win. HC Kyle Whittingham now has a fantastic 94-46 record with the Utes.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
Utah scored over 30 points a game last season and had 10 victories with just average play at the QB position. The battle for the starting QB role will continue into August and it is unclear who will replace Travis Wilson. Stay tuned.
With a new QB, and nobody returning who had more than 21 receptions last season, the Utes are going to have to rely on the ground attack. The offensive line should be very good, and while they are certainly going to miss the production of their top-notch RB Devontae Booker, there appears to be solid depth with Joe Williams and Troy McCormick leading the charge for playing time.
Will Utah be able to use the formula of running game, good defense and special teams in 2016 ? Well it is going to be difficult to win the PAC 12 South without more production from the passing game. The QB situation is an unknown and we are also a bit worried about the depth and talent in the WR group.
DEFENSE
Sack Lake City continued to live up to its name as the Utes finished 3rd in the PAC 12 (#16th FBS) in sacks per game. They were also ranked 2nd in the conference in total defense and scoring defense. Did we mention they were also #1 in the PAC 12 in rushing defense ? Well 7 starters return to the unit in 2016, including a stocked defensive line that should continue to be very stingy vs the run, while getting consistent pressure on opposing QBs. The top two tacklers from last season are gone but the Utes having been incredibly consistent the past seven years allowing between 109 and 147 rushing yards per game, while at the same time, recording no less than 29 sacks a season over that time horizon. Overall, we think the defense is still going to be a force despite the inexperience at LB.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Superb PK Andy Phillips is back for his senior season to handle the FG duties but they will be without TWO-time Ray Guy Award winning punter Tom Hackett. MEGALOCKS PAC 12 INSIDERS have also advised us that KR/WR Cory Butler-Byrd is indefinitely suspended which would leave a hole in the return game. The Utes seem to be great in this department every season but we think they are going to miss their ace punter quite a bit.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Yawn. All they do is win. The PAC 12 South is well within their reach this season despite having a lot of question marks on offense. There is another edition of the “Holy War” in week two followed shortly thereafter by a home date with USC. We should have a good idea of the potential of this team by the time October rolls around.
Overall, we give the UTES a 5.0 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season. Utah has traditionally been a team to look at every week because they are so consistent and often overlooked when it comes to the point spread. However, people seem to be getting wise to the Utes as they have been pretty much a break-even proposition ATS the past 5 years (32-31). The Utes will probably get a pass from us the first three weeks of the season until we can gauge how the offense is coming around.
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News
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http://bleacherreport.com/utah-utes-football
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http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/utah-utes
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