Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins catches a touchdown against Air Force earlier this season. (Getty)
The Basics
Who:
No. 22 Utah (8-4) vs. Colorado State (10-2), Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
When:
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC
Where:
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Line:
Utah (-3.5). Line provided by bovada.lv
All-Time Series:
Utah State 55-22-2
Last Year’s Las Vegas Bowl:
Southern Cal 45, Fresno State 20, on Dec. 21, 2013
Heavy’s Pick
In one corner, we have Utah. The Utes, who are 7-1 in bowls under Kyle Whittingham, are ranked 22nd but have clearly been struggling, losing 3 of 5. In the other, there’s Colorado State, which just lost its coach to Florida.
The Rams had won 9 in a row before falling in the season-finale to Air Force. A few days later, CSU coach Jim McElwain was leaving the frigid air of Fort Collins for the warmth of Gainesville. There is no way to know how this will affect the Rams, but as long as quarterback Garrett Grayson (3,779 yards, 32 TDs) remembers to throw to All-American Rashard Higgins (1,650 yards, 17 TDs) early and often, the offense should be just fine. Though Utah’s FBS-leading pass rush (52 sacks) could put Grayson under some heat.
Since its 3-0 start, Utah hasn’t had an easy win and has scored over 30 points just once. Travis Wilson (17 passing touchdowns) and Devontae Booker (1,350 rushing yards, 9 TDs) will keep it close against their former conference rivals, but the Rams end the Utes’ season with another loss.
