Northwestern at Utah Holiday Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/31/2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

SDCCU Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Utah Utes host the Northwestern Wildcats at SDCCU Stadium on Monday, December 31, 2018. The opening line for this game has Utah as 8.5 point favorites. The Utes have an over/under record of 7-6-0 and they are 7-6-0 against the spread. The Wildcats have an ATS record of 6-5-2 while their over/under record is 6-7-0.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-7-0 against the over/under

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-5-2 against the spread

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 7-6-0 against the over/under

The Utah Utes are 7-6-0 against the spread

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/02/18 WR Flynn Nagel Undisclosed is questionable Monday vs Utah
09/24/18 RB Jeremy Larkin Undisclosed is out for season

Key Utah Utes Injuries

12/01/18 WR Britain Covey Knee is out indefinitely
11/12/18 RB Zack Moss Ankle is out for season
11/04/18 QB Tyler Huntley Collarbone is out for season
10/18/18 QB Jack Tuttle Transferred has left team
10/09/18 WR Bryan Thompson Redshirt is out for season
08/30/18 OL Johnny Capra Undisclosed is out for season
08/07/18 RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole Undisclosed is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Northwestern Wildcats have run for 1,528 yards as a team, which ranks 112th in college football. They've run 478 times, averaging 3.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Wildcats have been penalized on offense 36 times for 335 yards so far this season, which has them 129th in the country in penalties. They are 92nd in the nation in points scored with 308. They have run 975 plays this season for 4,638 yards, which ranks them 39th in Division 1 in total offense. The Wildcats average 4.8 yards per play, which is 121st in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 270 1st downs this year, placing them 42nd overall as an offensive unit. Clayton Thorson averages 6.4 yards per pass attempt and 5.8 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 251 passes on 416 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 119.7. He has thrown for 2,675 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Wildcats rush defense has allowed 446 attempts for 1,724 yards this year, putting them in 41st place in D-1 against the run. Northwestern has committed 95 penalties for 913 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 126th in college football. They are 51st in the nation in points allowed on defense with 306. They have surrendered a total of 5,079 yards on D, which is 82nd in the country. The Wildcats are ranked 56th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Opposing offenses have completed 296 passes on 459 attempts against the Northwestern Wildcats defense this season, placing them 129th and 124th in Division 1. The Northwestern pass defense has also given up a total of 3,355 yards through the air, which is 121st overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Northwestern Wildcats have attempted 16 field goals this season and made 9, which is 115th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 60%. Northwestern Wildcats kickers have made 97% of their extra points, going 35 for 36 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,932 yards on 72 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That places them 77th in Division 1 in punting average. Northwestern is ranked 26th in the nation in punt returns with 23. They've accumulated 146 punt return yards and average 6.1 yards per return, which is 98th in college football. They have returned 16 kicks for 356 yards on special teams, ranking 108th in kick return yardage. The Wildcats average 22 yards per kick return and they are 98th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,140.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Utes are 53rd in the country in points scored with 373. They have run 893 plays this year for 5,156 yards, which ranks them 75th in Division 1 in total offense. The Utah Utes average 5.8 yards per play, which is 64th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 265 1st downs this season, ranking them 50th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Utah has run for 2,464 yards as a unit, which ranks 34th in college football. They've run 530 times, averaging 4.6 yards per rush as a unit. Utah has been penalized on offense 68 times for 621 yards so far this year, which has them 85th in the country in penalties. Tyler Huntley has passed for 723 yards this year. He's completed 54 throws while attempting 96 passes for a completion percentage of 56.3%. His quarterback rating this season is 124.3. He averages 7.5 adjusted yards per throw and 7.5 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Utah is 20th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 241. They have given up a total of 4,111 yards on D, which is 25th in D-1. The Utes are 18th in yards per play allowed with 4.7. Opponent offenses have completed 251 throws on 438 attempts against the Utah defense this season, ranking them 111th and 116th in the nation. The Utah Utes pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,773 yards in the air, which is 64th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 443 attempts for 1,338 yards this season, putting them in 13th place in the country against the run. The Utes have had 61 penalties for 588 yards on defense this year. That places them 32nd in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Utah is 20th in the country in punt returns with 26. They've totaled 225 punt return yards and average 8.7 yards per return, which is 67th in D-1. They have returned 10 kicks for 179 yards on special teams, which puts them 126th in kick return yardage. The Utah Utes average 18 yards per kick return and they are 72nd in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,560. The Utes have tried 29 field goals this year and made 23, which is 3rd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 83%. Utah kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 43 for 43 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,467 yards on 56 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That ranks them 18th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Wildcats/Utes college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Wildcats +8.5

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