Vegas College Football Bowl Predictions Part I (Pre-Christmas): Utah-Colorado State & More

Nov 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) reacts to running back a punt for a touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The play was called back for a penalty against Utah. Arizona won 42-10. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl- Las Vegas, Nev.

No. 22 Utah Utes vs. Colorado State Rams

Line: Utah by 3

Saturday Blitz Vegas Bowl Prediction: Utah Wins 27-17

This game doesn’t have the luster it would have had if Jim McElwain were still on the sidelines for Colorado State, but it is still the best game among the first batch of bowl games.

However, in pure entertainment, it’ll be rendered pretty boring.

Colorado State’s open offense with Garrett Grayson throwing to Rashard Higgins is about to be hit with a very physical Utah defensive line that eats finesse offenses for breakfast. Meanwhile, the Rams, who might have played the softest schedule among anybody in college football this year, will get flat-out destroyed on defense by Utah’s running game.

The Utes will keep it a little low-scoring due to their use of time management when they have the ball on offense, and the Rams will break free for a couple of nice plays to allow the game to not be a blowout. But when it’s all said and done, Utah will come away with a fairly comfortable victory in this one. Colorado State finishes the year without a quality win.

Next: Potato Bowl Prediction: Western Michigan vs. Air Force