Bowl sport matchup predictions for Utah, Huge 12 groups after remaining week of normal season – Sports activities Illustrated

The faculty soccer common season is within the books and convention championship week is correct across the nook, which suggests it's nearly time for postseason-eligible groups to go bowling.
After all, there's nonetheless loads to type out relating to the Faculty Soccer Playoff area. However for these like Utah, which gained't be competing within the Huge 12 championship sport on Saturday and subsequently, gained't be positioned within the 12-team playoff, it's a easy ready sport to see which bowl sport organizers prolong an invitation.
The Utes (10-2, 7-2) secured bowl eligibility again in October, although their postseason outlook was primarily solidified over the course of the ultimate week of the common season. Needing outdoors assist to clinch a spot within the convention title sport, Utah took care of its personal enterprise in a 31-21 win over Kansas however missed out on an opportunity to play in Arlington, Texas, for an computerized Faculty Soccer Playoff bid after Arizona State misplaced to Arizona later that Friday.
Given Utah was the "second crew out" within the earlier CFP rankings and gained't be taking part in for the Huge 12 championship, there's not many causes for the choice committee to rethink its course of and put the Utes above among the SEC groups forward of them. And it doesn't assist that BYU, which has the head-to-head benefit over Utah, was thought of the "first crew out" earlier than the final weekend of the common season.
Talking of the Cougars — they'll face Texas Tech and BYU for the Huge 12 championship. The Pink Raiders are closely favored to win the rematch of their Nov. 8 matchup in Lubbock, Texas, although each groups might get into the Faculty Soccer Playoff if BYU finds a method to come away with a win.
Ought to Texas Tech replicate its 29-7 win over BYU from earlier within the season, although, there's an opportunity the Huge 12 solely will get its convention champion into the playoff. As a result of whereas the Cougars have been inside the highest 12, the CFP rankings haven't mirrored the truth that 5 convention champions will get an computerized berth, which means room must be made for a champion from the ACC, AAC and/or the Solar Belt, for instance, as a result of truth the highest groups from the SEC, Huge Ten and Huge 12 are already represented within the prime 12.
Assuming the Pink Raiders beat the Cougars for a second time, it's nearly a foregone conclusion that 9 Huge 12 groups can be competing in non-Faculty Soccer Playoff bowl video games this postseason: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, TCU and Utah.
With a few weeks to go till postseason play kicks off, right here's a have a look at Utah Utes on SI's predictions for bowl sport matchups involving the Huge 12.
All occasions Mountain Commonplace Time
Bowl Sport
Matchup
Location
Sport time/channel
Alamo Bowl
BYU (11-1) vs. USC (9-3)
Alamodome (San Antonio)
Dec. 30, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
First Responder Bowl
Kansas State (6-6) vs. Texas State (6-6)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
Dec. 26, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Vacation Bowl
Arizona State (8-4) vs. SMU (8-4)
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
Jan. 2, 6 p.m. (Fox)
Las Vegas Bowl
Utah (10-2) vs. Iowa (8-4)
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Liberty Bowl
TCU (8-4) vs. Memphis (8-4)
Simmons Financial institution Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
Jan. 2, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Los Angeles Bowl
Arizona (9-3) vs. UNLV (10-2)
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Dec. 13, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Houston (9-3) vs. Georgia Tech (9-3)
Tenting World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Dec. 27, 1:30 p.m. (ABC)
Price Bowl
Cincinnati (7-5) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Chase Discipline (Phoenix)
Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Texas Bowl
Iowa State (8-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Dec. 27, 7:15 p.m. (ESPN)
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Cole Forsman has been a contributor with On SI for the previous three years, overlaying faculty athletics. He holds a level in Journalism and Sports activities Administration from Gonzaga College.
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