Texas +7 3.3% play / Texas +240 0.7% bonus
This is the 4th year in a row that Tom Herman will be coaching a bowl game as a dog and he's 3-0 striaght up and ATS. This is a tougher task after firing his DC and OC for this game, but Texas will have senior's playing in this game that have declared for the NFL draft, the game is being played in their home state just 90 miles away, and is critical to the future and recruiting of this program. Meanwhile, Utah's had a heart crushing loss in the PAC 12 game that would have sent them to the National Championship. This is very similar to what we saw last year when Texas faced Georgia who lost in the SEC Championship, and then Texas went and beat a very good Georgia team. Texas opened up 2019 season and nearly upset LSU, and there were certainly things in that game that made me believe they should have won that game.
Defensively I think TExas matches up well against a run first Utah offense that is pretty straight forward. Texas defensive strength is vs. the run, and a lot of the statistical profile of Texas that people hate is based on some of the injuries they had throughout the year. Utah went 0-2 vs. TOP 25 teams this season, and probably should have lost at Washington. Utah's defense which played extremely well will have issues defending Texas pass game with Sam Ehlinger and a healthy group of WR who have height, which will be a major advantage in this game. Colin Johnson is 6'6, and is a major threat down field. Utah struggled defending USC's taller receivers, as their secondary lacks height. Speaking of their secondary they will be without two starters in Julian Blackmon and Jaylon Johnson.
