Fresno State Bulldogs at Utah Utes
Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah
Saturday, September 6, 2014, 3:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Opening Line: Utah -7 1/2
Current Line: Utah -12
Opening Total: 62 1/2
Current Total: 64 1/2
Opening Money Line: Utah -480 / Fresno State +380
Current Money Line: Utah -500 / Fresno State +400
The Fresno State Bulldogs and Utah Utes meet for the tenth time ever Saturday in Salt Lake City. Utah leads the series 5-4 against Fresno State, including 4-1 in Salt Lake City. The Utes won the last meeting 17-16 in the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl. Utah will complete the home and home in Fresno next season.
Fresno State lost 52-13 at USC last week in the season opener. Utah crushed Idaho State 56-14 last week.
Fresno State is coached by Tim DeRuyter. The Bulldogs were 18.5 point underdogs at USC and the total was 58. Fresno State was never in the game as USC jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, before the Bulldogs finally scored to make it 24-7. The Trojans added another touchdown just before halftime to make it 31-7. USC would cruise to a 52-13 blowout win. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans racked up 701 total yards including 424 passing yards and 277 rushing yards. The Bulldogs had only 317 total yards including 160 rushing yards. Fresno had 4 turnovers and Southern Cal had 2. The trojans overcame 9 penalties for 76 yards. USC had 37 first downs to 17 fro Fresno State. The Trojans were 14/23 on third and fourth down conversions, and the Bulldogs were 4/16.
Fresno State used two quarterbacks against USC and neither was effective. Brian Burrell completed 11 of 19 passes for 92 yards and an interception, and also rushed for 42 yards on 4 carries. Brandon Connette completed 7 of 17 passes for 68 yards with 3 interceptions. The only offensive threat was running back Marteze Waller who had 16 carries for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 3 catches for 25 yards. Fresno State took a hit this week when kicker Colin McGuire left the team for personal reasons. The kicking duties now fall to true freshman walk-on Kody Kroening.
Utah is coached by Kyle Whittingham. The Utes were 40.5 point favorites at home against Idaho State and the total was 56.5. Idaho State tied the game at seven in the first quarter, but Utah would close the half scoring 28 unanswered points and would never be threatened again. Kaelin Clay had a 46 yard punt return for a touchdown for Utah and also a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Utah would go on to win 56-14.
Utah had 589 total yards including 351 passing yards. Idaho State had 337 total yards including 179 rushing yards. Utah had the only turnover of the game and each team had 7 penalties. The Utes had 27 first downs to 21 for the Bengals. Idaho State was 9/21 on third and fourth down conversions, and Utah was 9/15.
Utah quarterback Travis Wilson completed 13 of 18 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown, and also added a rushing touchdown. Running back Devontae Booker had 10 carries for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with a catch for 61 yards. Dres Anderson had 4 catches for 111 yards.
Fresno State is 4-0 ATS after a cover, 5-1 after allowing 200 rushing yards or more, 13-5 against teams with winning home records, 3-7 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more, 14-37-2 after a straight up loss, 2-6 after scoring 20 points or less, 3-9 on fieldturf, 6-21-2 after allowing more than 40 points, 1-4 against teams with winning records, and 1-5 in non-conference games.
Utah is 5-0 ATS in non-conference games, 8-3 against Mountain West teams, 17-7 against teams with losing records, 9-4 at home, 4-10 after allowing less than 20 points, 2-6 after passing for more than 280 yards, 2-8 after a straight up win, 1-4 after a cover, 1-6 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, and 1-7 after allowing less than 170 passing yards. The home team has covered the last 4 games in this series.
For the second straight week, Fresno State travels to a Pac 12 school. A trip to Utah is a much more manageable task than a trip to USC. One thing is certain though, both quarterbacks for Fresno State must play much better or this could be another blowout. I think the Bulldogs hang around for a while but Utah pulls away late.
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