Utah Utes 2022 College Football Preview
June 17, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 10-4
ATS – 7-7
Now that was a lot of fun for Utes fans.
Utah started out losing two of their first three contests and then proceeded to rattle off wins in eight of their last nine regular season games. They destroyed Oregon (for the second time) in the PAC 12 Championship Game and earned a Rose Bowl berth. It was a classic, but the Buckeyes stormed back to take it 48-45 (!).
Do the Utes have the MINERALS to win another conference title?
Utah Utes 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Utes were a HOT HANDFUL on offense last year once QB Cameron Rising took over early in the season. Rising was lethal with the THROW GAME (20-5 TD to INT, 64%) whilst terrorizing defense with his legs (499, 6 TD, 6.7 YPC!). All the key weapons are back at WR/TE other than the ageless Britain Covey and note that they have a devastating pair of TEs in Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid who combined for over 1,100 yards and 14 (!) TDs in 2021. Two-thirds of the THREE-HEADED MONSTER is back at RB including 1st Team PAC 12 honoree Tavion Thomas who scooted for over 1,100 yards and an impossible 21 TDs LY. If there’s a concern on offense it might be an OL that needs to work in a new C and LT. Both previous starters were all-PAC 12 performers.
DEFENSE
The Utes played solid defense as per usual LY (#27 FBS total D, #19 run D, #53 pass efficiency D) and SACK LAKE CITY was in full effect as they took down opposing QBs 42 times (#1 PAC 12, T9 FBS). Six starters return on this side of the football but they lose four of their top-five tacklers and top-two sack men in Devin Lloyd and Mika Tafua (combined 17.5 sacks, 35 TFL). There are still some good pieces to build around including emerging star DT Junior Tafuna, LB Mohamoud Diabate (#1 tackler with Gators LY), and ace CB Clark Phillips (2nd Team PAC 12, 13 PBU LY). It all comes down to trusting the Utes to DO WHAT THEY DO and put an excellent defense on the field. We’ll have to see how much the stop unit suffers without a pair of pass rushing demons.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The great PHIL STEELE has ranked Utah special teams #115, #60, #92 L3Y and now they need to replace their punter and one of the most explosive return men around in Britain Covey (three return TD LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They have a pair of nasty road games (Florida, Oregon) but at least they get the Trojans at home. The back-to-back October games with UCLA and USC LOOM LARGE.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing overly-heinous noted.
Season Win Total
per 5Dimes June 17
Over 8.5 -120
Under 8.5 -110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
Hmm. They’ve got a pair of tough road games but it’s not like Florida or Oregon are unbeatable. The floor is probably 8-4 so a bit of leanage goes to the ‘over’.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Utah is an EYE-POPPING 20-2 at home over the L4Y.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Utah has the best defense in the conference (although maybe down a small notch?) and one of the top offenses. Playing USC at home is a bonus and probably gives them the inside track to book a spot in the PAC 12 Championship Game.
GET CHO POPCONE!
Want more Utah Football ?
WEBSITE
https://utahutes.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://www.utehub.com/forums/forum/sports/football/
https://utah.forums.rivals.com/forums/inside-ute-nation.10/
https://247sports.com/college/utah/board/inside-the-utah-locke-rroom-105316/
https://247sports.com/college/utah/board/premium-utes-forum-105314/
NEWS
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/utes/
http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/utah-utes
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/254/utah-utes