Utah looks to end an up and down 2017 season with a victory over West Virginia football in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl.
After kicking off the season with four straight wins, head coach Kyle Whittingham and his Utah program proceeded to drop their next four in the wake of quarterback Tyler Huntley’s injury. While backup quarterback Troy Williams’ losses came at the hands of two of the nation’s top teams in Stanford and USC, Huntley and his team struggled greatly in his return, falling to Arizona State and Oregon by scores of 10-30 and 20-41, respectively.
Utah would round out the year with a .500 record, sandwiching losses against Washington State and Washington between respectable victories over UCLA and Colorado. The Utes will face off against a West Virginia team that recently dropped back to back games against Texas and Oklahoma despite a very hot start.
With both teams bringing their own strengths to the table, this game is sure to provide the excitement to overcome your post-Christmas blues. Here’s how to catch all of the action next Tuesday in Dallas.
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Dallas, TX
Venue: Cotton Bowl Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
The key to victory for the Mountaineers would typically lie in quarterback Will Grier’s ability to manipulate opposing defenses through the air and on the ground, but the junior has been ruled out for Tuesday’s contest. In his place, sophomore Chris Chugunov will try his best to fill the shoes of one of West Virginia’s best quarterback products.
Chugunov, who has recorded 407 yards and two touchdowns through the air this season, will look to make his presence felt in his second start as a Mountaineer. While Chugunov offers a significantly lower rushing threat than Grier, he has managed to play mistake-free football in his short time playing this year. With Chugunov under center, expect a conservative approach from head coach Dana Holgorsen.
With Grier out for the game, look for Utah to take a more conservative approach as well. Had Grier played in this contest, we likely would’ve seen a high-stakes approach from Whittingham. However, with Grier on the bench, the Utes will have the advantage of implementing a wait-and-see method in terms of how they operate their respective offensive and defensive units.
Prediction
Quarterback play is always a great indicator of how a game will go, so the removal of Grier from the equation makes any predictions all the more difficult. With Chugunov only logging two starts prior to this one, he functions as somewhat of a wild card. It’s virtually unknown just what he brings to the table, so his performance might be just as much of a surprise to Utah as it will to us.
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However, with Utah’s defense playing at a higher level than that of West Virginia’s, the scales tip in the favor of Utah’s Tyler Huntley. With nearly a full season under his belt, look for him to move the Utes to their 14th win in their last 15 bowl games.
Final Score: Utah 31, West Virginia 24