– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:51 am
2017 Football Preview – Pac 12 – Utes
Looking for 2017 Utah Utes predictions? The Utes had a successful season last year finishing with a 9-4 record. But they have higher hopes this year. They feel like they have a good enough team to make a run at the Pac 12 championship, and maybe even something more. Kyle Whittingham has built something special, but with it being special come high expectations.
NCAA Football Gambling Lines
- 2017-18 College Football Preview – Utah Utes
- Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham
- 2016 Record: 9-4
- Utah Utes Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +30000
- Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
- ***More 2017 NCAA Football Team Season Previews***
So can they live up to the expectations? Or will this be another year that they finish with a middle of the pack record and a couple of wins away form something special.
2017 Utah Utes Predictions: Team Strengths
Solid Running Game: The one thing you know you are going to get with a Kyle Whittingham coached team is that they are going to be physical up front, and they are going to pound the rock.
It isn’t going to be different this year. They lost Joe Williams to graduation but the Utes have a slew of running backs. Not only are they just running backs, they are good running backs who will be a force in the Pac 12.
Zack Moss will be the leader of the group. He is a sophomore now and had a year to learn under Joe Williams. He was productive last year as a backup rushing for 382 yards and two touchdowns.
[dfads params=’groups=220&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
On the offensive line front they did lose four starters, but they recruit big strong physical offensive linemen and their should be no issue with those guys filling in.
New Approach on Offense: Troy Taylor has taken over as the offensive coordinator and he brings a different approach to the team.
Now they will still be physical running the ball, but he likes to have an up tempo no huddle type of offense. That should really help the quarterback play.
It puts more focus on the quarterback and he won’t always just be turning around to hand the ball off. He will be making more reads at the line, and this will be more of his offense.
2017 Utah Utes Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Mediocre Pass Rush: The Utah Utes have a good defense, but the one part that usually seems to struggle is the passing rush, and that will probably be the same again this year.
They lost 28 of the 43 sacks that the team had last year. They are going to be very young up front, and I think that will cause some issues.
If the pass rush isn’t good, that won’t help the pass defense as a whole. If the pass rush can step up though, this defense has the chance to be not only one of the best in the Pac 12 but all of college football.
Check out the free College football picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Who’s the Kicker: One of the biggest off season questions for this team is who is going to be the new kicker.
They lost Andy Phillips to graduation, who was the best kicker in Utah History. There is an open competition for the kicking job right now, and not having someone automatic in that spot is going to hurt.
He was someone that you knew when he came on the field he was going to make it.
Utah Utes Prediction: 8-4
This team is going to be younger then in years past and I think that will hurt the Utes.
I think they will have the growing pains of a young team and they will make some silly mistakes early. They also play Stanford and USC in back to back to weeks and that will hurt.
[dfads params=’groups=219&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
I think they will finish the season with an 8-4 record and will once again be on the outside looking in for the Pac 12 championship.
2017 Utah Utes Football Schedule
- 8/31/17 7:30 PM ET UND
- 9/9/17 10:15 PM ET @BYU
- 9/16/17 10:00 PM ET SJSU
- 9/22/17 10:30 PM ET @ARIZ
- 10/7/17 TBD STAN
- 10/14/17 TBD @USC
- 10/21/17 TBD ASU
- 10/28/17 TBD @ORE
- 11/3/17 TBD UCLA
- 11/11/17 TBD WSU
- 11/18/17 TBD @WASH
- 11/25/17 TBD COLO
What do you think about our 2017 Utah Utes predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
The 2017 College futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NCAA football, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NCAAF odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find College football lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated College Football Betting Odds.