For a couple of decades, BYU and Utah met each year in the “Holy War” rivalry. BYU won 19 of the first 21, but then Utah won nine of 12 until the rivalry was suspended last season. They take on each other once again in the Las Vegas Bowl this Saturday, December 19, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Utah is favored to win by three points, and the over/under total is 54 points. Click here for NCAAF betting lines.
Attention Fans: We’re only 2 hours away from the @Royal_Purple #LVBowl! Both @BYUfootball & @Utah_Football are here! pic.twitter.com/ff8F2b2qPl
— Las Vegas Bowl (@LasVegasBowl) December 19, 2015
View full TV schedule here.
Why should you pick BYU (+3)?
BYU opened the season with a tough schedule, beating Boise State and Nebraska and losing to Michican and UCLA. Then the Cougars went on a five-game tear before falling at Missouri. They finished with two wins, including a rout of Utah State, 51-28 in a game where BYU trailed 21-10 but then ran off 28 straight points. That means that the Cougars have scored at least 50 points two games in a row. The 9-3 Cougars are 8-4 against the spread, and under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who is set to leave town to coach Virginia next year, they are 6-4 straight up and against the spread in bowl games. If the Cougars are motivated to give Mendenhall a fine sendoff, it could be a big night for BYU.