Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
Value from key injuries to a team is where oddsmakers can tilt the number. That’s the case with Tuesday’s bowl game between the Utah Utes and West Virginia Mountaineers. WVU will be without their key running back, and quarterback in Will Grier. Yet, Utah has had issues executing their game plans all season. Look for WVU to capitalize on Utah not taking advantage early. Grab WVU.
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas) -- Kyle Whittingham has this bowl thing figured out. The Utah coach has won 10 of 11 postseason contests -- continuing a tradition set by his predecessor, who won the Utes' three previous outings. While significant, it's not the lone justification for the pick, even with the original spread growing by two points. Both quarterbacks have been banged up. Utah's Tyler Huntley (shoulder) will play, but the Mountaineers' Will Grier (hand) will not. West Virginia's most effective running back, Justin Crawford, is a healthy scratch. He's ducking out to avoid injury before the NFL Draft.
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas) -- West Virginia plays zero defense, and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham's long history of bowl success are both concerns in this game. But the Mountaineers will have the best player on the field in quarterback Will Grier, and their advantage on offense should bridge the gap with Utah's physicality. This is just too many points between relatively even teams.
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas) -- It's unfortunate that we won't get to see Mountaineer quarterback Will Grier in this one, which is the only reason why the Utes are favored. The offense struggled when Chris Chugunov replaced Grier, With that said, Utah has been one of my biggest disappointments of the 2017 season. Chugunov and coach Dana Holgorsen will benefit from bowl practice time, the program will be excited to be there after the announcements that Grier and wide receiver David Sills V will both return for 2018 and Sills will have a couple of big plays to spring the upset.
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas) -- Two teams with contrasting styles and strengths, West Virginia has my 15th-best offense and 43rd-ranked defense. Utah has my 47th-ranked offense and 19th-best defense. My overall rating for these teams is West Virginia at No. 23 and Utah at No. 24. This one's easy. I'll take the better team getting points.
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas, Tex.) -- The Utes are built for success along both lines of scrimmage. So are the Mountaineers. Many don't expect a team that can air it out to be so good up front. Add in the fact that the Mountaineers can beat you multiple ways on offense and have the back seven to match up athletically across the board. Take the points.