I cannot back Utah at this time.  They are a team that wallops UCLA 44-6 and then comes to UNLV and gets shut out, 27-0.  They are offensively challenged gaining only 304 yards per game this year as compared to a 368 yard average last year.  Against Utah State, one of the weakest teams in the nation, the Utes could only muster 325 yards,  This is the lowest anybody has gained against Utah State this year.

On the other side of the ball is Louisville, a very good offensive team with a terrible defense.  However, looking more closely at Louisville, they lost to Kentucky while only rushing for 101 yards, then the next week lost to Syracuse only rushing for 73 yards.  Neither of those teams is even a defensive middle-of-the-road team.  They did rush for 247 yards last week against NC State.  The Wolfpack, one of the worst offensive teams in the country, was able to pass for 249 yards against the Cardinals.  That was the lowest yardage Louisville has allowed so far this year through the air. 

Utah could be coming back to last year’s offensive form.  Brian Johnson, the MWC player of the year a few years ago, started last week and should be shaking some of the rust off from missing all of last year and missing a couple of starts this year.  Darrell Mack has shown some prowess at running back the past three games.  Can Utah stop the run.  Against UNLV, Rebel running back Frank Summers looked like Jim Brown literally running over Utes all day long. 

Gun to my head says to take the Utes and the points.  If Middle Tennessee State and Syracuse can average 40 points against Louisville, maybe this is the team Utah needs to play to get their offense clicking.  This has not been the same Louisville team we knew from last year. 

No premium play for me on this game.