Utah vs Northwestern Prediction, Odds & Props
The Utah Utes (8-4) will take on the Northwestern Wildcats (7-5) in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, December 23rd, at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on ABC.
Utah enters as 6.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 41.5 points. The Utes are looking to snap a four-game winless streak in bowls under Kyle Whittingham, while the Wildcats aim for a fifth straight bowl victory.
Let’s dive into our Utah vs Northwestern prediction, as we analyze the Las Vegas Bowl odds and determine the best bets to make.
Utah vs Northwestern Odds
In the Las Vegas Bowl odds at ESPN Sportsbook, the Utah Utes are -250 favorites on the moneyline, giving them 71% implied win probability.
The spread has come down a half-point after opening at Utah -7, while the total has also come down a half point from its 42 opening number.
Odds as of December 20th at the ESPN Bet app. Use promo code “DIME” to unlock an awesome $250 sign-up bonus for the Las Vegas Bowl.
Utah vs Northwestern Betting Trends
Aside from both teams sporting opposite bowl streaks, there are some other betting trends to note for this matchup. Utah is 7-0 straight up as a betting favorite this season, covering the spread in four of those games.
Northwestern was a betting underdog nine times this season, winning four of those games straight up and covering the spread in six of those contests.
In terms of the over/under, the total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northwestern’s last 7 games., while it has gone UNDER in eight of Utah’s last 11 games when playing as the favourite.
Utes Betting Analysis
Utah had an up-and-down season, shuffling through multiple quarterbacks after beginning the year with Pac-12 title aspirations. The Utes finished 5-4 in conference play and 8-4 overall.
In their last three games, Utah went 2-1 with a win over Stanford and a close loss to Oregon before beating Colorado. Luke Bottari started at QB for the Utes against the Buffaloes, throwing for just 61 yards in the victory.
Quarterback Bryson Barnes led the offense in the absence of injured starter Cam Rising, throwing for 1,517 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the year. Despite news that Barnes is entering the transfer portal, he WILL play in Saturday’s game.
Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson led the ground attack with 742 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His player prop rushing total for the Las Vegas Bowl is set at 72.5 yards, and that’s a bet we’re targeting in our props with Utah likely to rely heavily on their ground game.
Utah’s defense is always strong under coach Whittingham, and it’s no different this season. The Utes rank fourth nationally in rushing defense (84.3 yards per game) and 17th in total defense (308.6 yards per game).
Wildcats Betting Analysis
After starting the season 3-4, Northwestern showed resilience by winning 4 of their last 5 games to become bowl eligible. The Wildcats won tight contests against Purdue, Wisconsin, and Iowa, before edging out Illinois on the road to conclude Big Ten play.
Quarterback Ben Bryant battled through injuries but finished with 1,585 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Running back Cam Porter led the team with 618 rushing yards and four scores. Wide receiver Cam Johnson was the top playmaker with 50 catches for 684 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Wildcats struggled against the run this season, allowing a Big Ten-worst 160 rush yards per game. They were decent against the pass (129 ypg) and allowed just 24 points per game on average.
Utah vs Northwestern Prediction
Utah’s advantage lies in their stout defense, ranking 17th nationally in total defense (308.6 yards allowed per game) and 4th against the run (84.3 rushing yards allowed per game). Northwestern relies heavily on their passing attack behind Bryant and Johnson.
Northwestern’s chance to pull the upset centers around Bryant and the passing game taking advantage of Utah’s depleted secondary. The Utes will be without several key defensive backs from a unit that ranks 5th nationally in pass defense. Northwestern must protect Bryant against Utah’s strong pass rush led by DE Jonah Elliss.
The Wildcats’ four-game bowl winning streak and late-season momentum make them a dangerous underdog against a Utah squad that has lost four straight bowl appearances. This matchup has the makings of a close, lower-scoring affair that could come down to the final possessions.
- Northwestern +6.5 (-115)
- Under 41.5 Points (-110)
- Ja’Quinden Jackson Over 72.5 Rushing Yards (-118)
