Northwestern hopes to cap surprising season with Las Vegas Bowl win over Utah

Fri, Dec 22, 2023
NCAAF News (AP)

Las Vegas Bowl Bowl: Utah (8-4, Pac-12) vs. Northwestern (7-5, Big Ten), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Eastern

Line: Utah by 6.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook

Series record: Northwestern leads 2-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

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Utah looks to end a disappointing season on a positive note. The Utes spent the past two postseasons in the Rose Bowl, so this game is a step down for them. Utah, however, was ravaged by injuries this season, greatly hurting its chances in the loaded Pac-12 Conference. Northwestern's experience this season has been quite different. The Wildcats went 1-11 last season, and then a hazing scandal cost coach Pat Fitzgerald his coaching job in July. Under David Braun, Northwestern found a way to go 7-5. A victory in this game would be a great capper to this unexpected season.

KEY MATCHUP

Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant vs. Utah's defense. The 24-year-old Bryant, who also played at Cincinnati and Eastern Michigan, is a major reason the Wildcats are in this game. He has passed for 1,585 yards, with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Utah has long been known for its defense, and this season is no different. The Utes allow less than 20 points per game, but standout defensive backs Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki are skipping the bowl to prepare for the NFL.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah: DT Junior Tafuna. The Utes are especially tough against the run, allowing 84.2 yards per game. Tafuna is a big part of that, but he also is effective at pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Of his 5 1/2 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 came on sacks. That production earned him second-team All-Pac-12.

Northwestern: LB Bryce Gallagher. He made second-team All-Big Ten after leading Northwestern in tackles for the second consecutive season, finishing with 110. Gallagher did a little bit of everything, recording four tackles for loss, two takeaways and two forced fumbles.

FACTS & FIGURES

This is the probably the final Las Vegas Bowl with a Pac-12 tie-in given only Oregon State and Washington State remain in that conference. ... Utah and Northwestern faced each other in the 2018 Holiday Bowl. The Wildcats won 31-28. ... Northwestern didn't lose consecutive games this season, and the Wildcats take a three-game winning streak into this game. ... Braun is the first coach to lead Northwestern to a bowl in his first season. ... The Wildcats' six-victory improvement over last season was best among FBS teams. ... Utah's Kyle Whittingham is 11-5 in bowls, his victory total third among active coaches. ... The Utes are 4-1 in the Las Vegas Bowl. Their lone loss was 26-3 to Boise State in 2010. Utah won its most recent appearance, defeating state rival BYU 35-28 in 2015. ... The Utes led the FBS in possession time at 34:03 per game. ... Utah is fourth in run defense (84.2 yards per game), eighth in third-down defense (28.9%) and 17th in total defense (308.6).

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football