Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl: 2017 College Football Bowl Odds, Prediction

Charlie Grant | Updated Dec 24, 2017

Tyler Huntley

The Utes are expecting to get starting quarterback Tyler Huntley back on the field after he missed last game of the regular season.

Utah
6-6
AT
December 26, 2017, 1:30 PM ET
Cotton Bowl
Pointspread -7 -110
Moneyline -255
Over / Under o +55.5

61%

Betting Action

39%

Pointspread +7 -110
Moneyline +205
Over / Under u +55.5

61%

Betting Action

39%

The first matchup of two Power 5 conference teams doesn’t have the same allure because both teams limped to the finish line and a number of star players will be sitting this one out when the Utah Utes face the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Utes vs. Mountaineers Spread and Betting Analysis

The Mountaineers went 7-5 straight up and 5-6-1 against the spread during the regular season with the over going 7-4-1 in their 12 games. West Virginia is 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS in its last four postseason appearances.

The Utes endured a horrible campaign in the Pac-12 that saw them win only three of their nine conference battles, and finish with a 6-6 mark straight up and 8-3-1 against the spread. The over cashed in four of Utah’s final five games and went 6-6 on the year.

Utah is 13-1 SU in its bowl appearances since 1996 and 10-3 ATS in its last 13 postseason games.

Nearly 65 percent of Sports Interaction bettors expect the Utes to cover as 6.5-point favourites and more than 70 percent are betting the game to finish over the 56-point total.

Utah Utes

Getting Tyler Huntley back on the field would be good news for Utah backers. The Utes are more dangerous attacking team with Huntley under centre despite going 2-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS in the three games he missed.

Huntley can throw and run as his 302.9 combined yards per game average shows. Utah will turn to its senior and starter from a year ago, Troy Williams, should Huntley not be able to play.

West Virginia Mountaineers

The Mountaineers will be without their starting quarterback and running back in this game but for different reasons. Tailback Justin Crawford elected to sit this game out to avoid an injury threat with the NFL combine only a few months away. He ran for 1061 yards and seven touchdowns during the season.

Kennedy McKoy will get the majority of carries with Crawford out. He gained 565 yards and seven TDs and finished with a 5.1 yards per carry average.

Starting QB Will Grier won’t be as easily replaced. He missed the last two games because of a broken finger that still hasn’t healed. WVU went 0-2 SU and ATS while getting outscored 87-45 in the two games backup Chris Chugunov started in place of Grier.

Utes vs. Mountaineers Prediction

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