Southern Utah Thunderbirds (6-5 Last Season) vs. Utah Utes (8-5 Last Season)
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Utah Utes August 29 2024 – Thursday kicks off the NCAAF season with a fascinating game between Southern Utah Thunderbirds and Utah Utes. The two squads are looking to get off on the right foot in their seasons, with the former hoping to better their previous record of 6-5 while the latter aims at leveraging its performance of 8-5 from last year. The bout is not only an opening fixture but also offers a preview of what could be, it promises intrigue and tactics. Fans and gamblers will want to watch out for this one given that it’s highly significant when making NCAAF picks and predictions.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Utah Utes August 29 2024 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Rice-Eccles Stadium |
| TV: | ESP+ |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Utah Utes Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Southern Utah | TBD | +38 (-110) | 53 over (-110) |
| Utah Utes | TBD | -38 (-110) | 53 under (-110) |
The betting odds paint a clear picture of the expectations for this game: Utah Utes are massive favorites. With a 38-point spread, oddsmakers anticipate a dominant performance by Utah. The total over/under at 53 points suggests a game with considerable scoring, likely skewed towards the Utes given the Thunderbirds’ struggle to secure wins, especially in road games and against Pac-12 teams.
Justin Miller QB vs. Luke Bottari QB
Justin Miller is poised to come into this game with an excellent performance last season, which saw him throw for 2,527 yards along with a 59.7% completion rate. The Thunderbirds will be relying on his ability to stretch the field as shown by his farthest pass of 66 yards in order to put up a fight against Utah’s defense. However, he could struggle to get going considering that he was sacked nine times last season and has been known to be weak when under pressure from their front seven.
Conversely, Luke Bottari, while less known because he saw limited action last year, revealed potential in few outings. With a 63.6% completion rate and 79 passing yards, the California native’s meticulousness in running the offense and lack of turnovers would be crucial. Although not putting up huge numbers himself offensively, his role as a game manager may fit perfectly into the Utes’ anticipated run-oriented approach.
Miller’s capacity to manage stress relative to Bottari’s potentiality of flawless adherence to an unexciting game plan will determine the outcome of the quarterback battle. Risky and dynamic conduct on Miller’s part might place the Utah defense at a disadvantage, and it could result in big play situations for Southern Utah. On the other hand, Bottari must be calm enough to be accurate in passing; else he should avoid throwing interceptions and maintain possession as long as possible.
Thundering Forward: Southern Utah’s Ground and Air Attack
Southern Utah’s offense, led by Braedon Wissler, who racked up 684 rushing yards last season, and Timothy Patrick, with 339 receiving yards, will need to find creases in Utah’s stout home defense. Wissler’s ability to break tackles and Patrick’s knack for pulling down crucial catches could offer the Thunderbirds some hope of keeping the game competitive.
Utes’ Tactical Play: Utah’s Offensive Strategy
Utah might lean heavily on Jaylon Glover, who accumulated 562 rushing yards last season, to control the game’s tempo and keep Southern Utah’s offense off the field. Coupled with Money Parks, a reliable target who can make significant plays after the catch, Utah’s strategy will likely focus on ball control and time of possession to dictate the pace of the game.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds Betting Trends
Southern Utah are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Southern Utah’s last 9 games.
Southern Utah are 0-10 SU in their last 10 games.
Thunderbirds are 0-15 SU in their last 15 games on the road.
Southern Utah are 0-9 SU in their last 9 games against an opponent in the Pac-12 conference.
Utah Utes Betting Trends
Utah are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
Utes are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
Utah are 19-1 SU in their last 20 games at home.
Utah are 13-3 SU in their last 16 games against an opponent in the Western Athletic conference.
Utes are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games played in August.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Utah Utes Betting Previews
Utah seems to be in a good position to continue their dominance playing home games, given the present dynamics and historical performance. Although the spread is quite large, Utah has proven effective when playing at home while Southern Utah has not been performing well against stronger opponents or on the road, so Utes have chances of covering it. The outcome will be significantly determined by how aggressively they play after taking the lead.
Covering the spread by Utah could be one way for bettors to approach it and look at over on total points given the trends. Keep in mind prop bets including Wissler and Parks that offer more value.
From an analytical perspective and using betting trends, it’s safe to say that using Top-Ranked Betting Sites for placing these bets would ensure safety and better odds. Always ensure that you manage your betting budget responsibly as another exciting NCAAF season gets underway.
Score Prediction: Utah 48, Southern Utah 10.
