Utah vs Nebraska Las Vegas Bowl Best Bets
New Year's Eve only has one playoff game, but it has a few exciting bowls as well. Maybe Utah versus Nebraska isn't the most compelling of those games, but it's interesting, and it offers you an opportunity for some bowl betting. Plus, upsets do happen in bowls! Of course, that's more about the potential for exciting viewing. When it comes to betting on the Las Vegas Bowl matchup between the Utes and Cornhuskers, you probably shouldn't base it on what might be fun to watch.
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Utah vs Nebraska Las Vegas Bowl Odds
Spread: Utah -14.5 (BetMGM); Nebraska +14.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
Total: Under 51.5 (BetMGM); Over 51.0 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Utah -550 (DraftKings Sportsbook), +450 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Utah is a two-touchdown favorite in Las Vegas, so clearly the expectation is that it will win. Fanatics was the only place I saw offering an over/under total other than 51.5, essentially offering you a chance at a push if 51 points are scored. So, will the Utes win? And, more to the point, will they win by at least two touchdowns?
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Utah vs Nebraska Las Vegas Bowl Betting Picks
Kyle Wittingham took the Michigan job, but Morgan Scalley, who was going to step into the head coaching job after the Las Vegas Bowl anyway, was already around to take over. There isn't much reason for concern there. Utah would be the favorite even if both teams were at full capacity. The 10-2 Utes rank 10th in SP+. They had a rough loss to playoff team Texas Tech and barely lost to BYU on the road, but otherwise impressed in easy wins across the board. Nebraska is 7-5 and has lost three of its last four games. The Cornhuskers rank 45th in SP+. Nebraska has a great pass defense, but a bad run defense. The same is true for Utah, but Utah has also allowed only 18.7 points per game.
However, the Huskers are far from full capacity. They may have held onto Matt Rhule, but Dylan Raiola (who was already injured) is in the portal. Emmett Johnson, who totaled over 1,800 yards with 15 touchdowns, is preparing for the NFL Draft and won't play. Utah should have its starting quarterback, leading running back, and number-one receiver all available. Now, the Utes' starting offensive tackles, one a likely first-rounder and the other a likely Day 2 guy, are both opt-outs, but that shouldn't hold the run game back too much in this matchup.
Utah should win, so it comes down to how the offense functions with the offensive line shakeup. There's also the fact of how, exactly, Nebraska plans to score without Raiola or Johnson. There have been several teams that have scored 10 or fewer points this bowl season, and I think the Cornhuskers join those ranks, which should mean Utah wins by two touchdowns or more.
Utah vs Nebraska Las Vegas Bowl Best Bet: Utah -14.5 (BetMGM)
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Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs. Nebraska Betting Predictions
As I said, I don't see Nebraska scoring many points. TJ Lateef, a true freshman, has looked overmatched since stepping in for Raiola under center. I doubt the time off to prepare for the bowl will prove sufficient to get him viable as a starting quarterback. Meanwhile, there is legitimately nobody behind Johnson clearly in line to step up. Somebody will probably do fine, given the matchup, but I could see Nebraska being held out of the end zone.
Devon Dampier was a star at quarterback for Utah, and whether he stays or looks for a better program to join (there's no vacancy at Michigan to be filled), he'll want to showcase himself in this one. Even without his two star tackles, Dampier is good enough to get things done, as much with his legs as through the air. I don't think Utah romps over Nebraska, but Nebraska isn't likely to score enough to threaten to win.
Utah 27 - Nebraska 9
Las Vegas Bowl Player Props for Wednesday, January 31
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah – Anytime Touchdown -145 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
I mentioned Dampier can do damage on the ground. This season he has rushed for 687 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. Nebraska has allowed 171.3 rushing yards per game. While it has also allowed 23.0 points per contest, the odds are better that Utah scores on the ground. To that end, I'll take a shot at Dampier running one into the end zone.
TJ Lateef, QB, Nebraska – Under 163.5 passing yards (Hard Rock Sportsbook)
Well, the last time Lateef played, he went 9-for-24 for 69 yards against Iowa. The Utes have only allowed 177.5 passing yards per game. Unless Lateef is given the chance to air it out, like, 40 times since this a bowl game, I don't see him getting over that number.
