Overview
Utah and Wyoming come into this game from opposite sides of a rout. Utah won impressively at Iowa St. 68-27 and Wyoming was drubbed by TCU 45-0 in Ft. Worth. Wyoming is 2-4 with all of their losses against teams that were ranked at the time(including 3 top 10 teams). They have a respectable win on the road against Toledo and a ho-hum win in the opener against SUU.
Utah is 5-0, and are hitting on all cylinders. Since a mistake filled opener against Pitt, the closest game was 28 points and they have scored 50+ in the last 3 games.
Utah Defense vs Wyoming Offense
Passing Game
Soph. Austyn Carta-Samuels missed the game against TCU due to injury, but is reported to be back at full strength for this game. WR David Leonard is the main target in the passing game with 22-219-0. WR Chris McNeil is second on the team with 14-118-1. The Cowboys average 171.5 yds/game which puts them in 8th place in the MWC(ahead of only Air Force).
Utah's defense is allowing 163.6 yds/gm and has collected 4 interceptions. CB Brandon Burton collected his first pick against ISU and continues to lead the secondary.
Advantage Utah
Running Game
Wyoming averages a dysmal 69.2 yds/gm. RB Alvester Alexander lead the team with 277 yds on 91 carries. Dual threat QB, Austyn Carta-Samuels, is second with 52-108.
Utah gave up a year high 170yds on the ground last week against ISU bringing their season average up to 103.4 yds/gm. While a good chuck of those yards were in the 4th quarter against the 2nd and 3rd string, ISU's quarterback showed that Utah has some weakness against the edge rushing game. ACS has the ability to exploit that weakness this week, but one wonders if his line will give him that chance.
Advantage Utah
Utah's Offense vs. Wyoming's Defense
Passing game
Jordan Wynn is coming off his best performance of the year with 23-31, 325, 2-1. Utah completed passes to 8 different receivers. Jereme Brooks continues to lead the receiving corp with 24-336-4. DeVonte Christopher is the high yardage for the year with 18-348-3. Utah's QB's lead the conference with 70.5% completion rate and are second in the MWC with 249.4 yds/gm.
Wyoming is currently giving up 219.3 yds/game but has given up 14 passing TD's as well. SS Shamiel Gary and FS Chris Prosinski are in the top 3 in tackling for the year, which doesn't bode well for the success of a team
Advantage Utah
Running Game
Utah's two pronged running attack of Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide continue to churn out solid cumulative production combining for 526 yds, 8 tds, on 108 carries, with all 3 areas evenly split. Utah has averaged 188.8 yards a game for 3rd in conference.
Wyoming has been dreadful against the run, giving up 251 yds/gm. Ironically, they only allowed. The front seven are undersized and have been outmatched all year. Look for this trend to continue.
Advantage Utah
Special Teams
After the debacle that was the Pittsburg game, Utah's Special teams have dominated their counterparts. Led by Shaky Smithson and Reggie Dunn, the return game yields an average of 21.3 yds on punts and 31.2 yds on KO returns. Both of these lead the conference and rank 3rd and 1st nationally. After a shaky start, Sean Sellwood is now averaging 46.8 yds/gross(which includes 2 blocks). Joe Phillips has been perfect 7-7 on FG and 32 XP.
For Wyoming, Austin McCoy has been well practiced with 38 punts on the year for an avg of 45.1 yds. THeir return teams average 8.5 yds or punt return and 20.1 yds on kick returns.
Advantage Utah
Final Analysis
It is homecoming in Laramie so the Cowboys are hoping for a hostile environment and some adverse weather to help sway the tide in this game. Look for Utah to dominate with their running game to control the clock. Wyoming's only chance to win this game is if Austyn Carta-Samuels is able to run wild at the edges and convert broken plays with his legs and arm. Utah should win in a landslide.
Utah 44 Wyoming 10
Utah and Wyoming come into this game from opposite sides of a rout. Utah won impressively at Iowa St. 68-27 and Wyoming was drubbed by TCU 45-0 in Ft. Worth. Wyoming is 2-4 with all of their losses against teams that were ranked at the time(including 3 top 10 teams). They have a respectable win on the road against Toledo and a ho-hum win in the opener against SUU.
Utah is 5-0, and are hitting on all cylinders. Since a mistake filled opener against Pitt, the closest game was 28 points and they have scored 50+ in the last 3 games.
Utah Defense vs Wyoming Offense
Passing Game
Soph. Austyn Carta-Samuels missed the game against TCU due to injury, but is reported to be back at full strength for this game. WR David Leonard is the main target in the passing game with 22-219-0. WR Chris McNeil is second on the team with 14-118-1. The Cowboys average 171.5 yds/game which puts them in 8th place in the MWC(ahead of only Air Force).
Utah's defense is allowing 163.6 yds/gm and has collected 4 interceptions. CB Brandon Burton collected his first pick against ISU and continues to lead the secondary.
Advantage Utah
Running Game
Wyoming averages a dysmal 69.2 yds/gm. RB Alvester Alexander lead the team with 277 yds on 91 carries. Dual threat QB, Austyn Carta-Samuels, is second with 52-108.
Utah gave up a year high 170yds on the ground last week against ISU bringing their season average up to 103.4 yds/gm. While a good chuck of those yards were in the 4th quarter against the 2nd and 3rd string, ISU's quarterback showed that Utah has some weakness against the edge rushing game. ACS has the ability to exploit that weakness this week, but one wonders if his line will give him that chance.
Advantage Utah
Utah's Offense vs. Wyoming's Defense
Passing game
Jordan Wynn is coming off his best performance of the year with 23-31, 325, 2-1. Utah completed passes to 8 different receivers. Jereme Brooks continues to lead the receiving corp with 24-336-4. DeVonte Christopher is the high yardage for the year with 18-348-3. Utah's QB's lead the conference with 70.5% completion rate and are second in the MWC with 249.4 yds/gm.
Wyoming is currently giving up 219.3 yds/game but has given up 14 passing TD's as well. SS Shamiel Gary and FS Chris Prosinski are in the top 3 in tackling for the year, which doesn't bode well for the success of a team
Advantage Utah
Running Game
Utah's two pronged running attack of Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide continue to churn out solid cumulative production combining for 526 yds, 8 tds, on 108 carries, with all 3 areas evenly split. Utah has averaged 188.8 yards a game for 3rd in conference.
Wyoming has been dreadful against the run, giving up 251 yds/gm. Ironically, they only allowed. The front seven are undersized and have been outmatched all year. Look for this trend to continue.
Advantage Utah
Special Teams
After the debacle that was the Pittsburg game, Utah's Special teams have dominated their counterparts. Led by Shaky Smithson and Reggie Dunn, the return game yields an average of 21.3 yds on punts and 31.2 yds on KO returns. Both of these lead the conference and rank 3rd and 1st nationally. After a shaky start, Sean Sellwood is now averaging 46.8 yds/gross(which includes 2 blocks). Joe Phillips has been perfect 7-7 on FG and 32 XP.
For Wyoming, Austin McCoy has been well practiced with 38 punts on the year for an avg of 45.1 yds. THeir return teams average 8.5 yds or punt return and 20.1 yds on kick returns.
Advantage Utah
Final Analysis
It is homecoming in Laramie so the Cowboys are hoping for a hostile environment and some adverse weather to help sway the tide in this game. Look for Utah to dominate with their running game to control the clock. Wyoming's only chance to win this game is if Austyn Carta-Samuels is able to run wild at the edges and convert broken plays with his legs and arm. Utah should win in a landslide.
Utah 44 Wyoming 10
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