Published Dec 30, 11:27am ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Dec 30, 11:27am ET
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Updated Dec 30, 11:27am ET
Allegiant Stadium will host the matchup between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Utah Utes in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. These teams have met four times in the past, with Nebraska winning all four.
Will this be the Utes’ first-ever win against the Cornhuskers?
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| UTAH UTES | -550 |
| NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | +410 |
Nebraska had a shaky season at 7–5, but this will be their second straight bowl appearance and the 55th in program history. This is also their first-ever appearance in Las Vegas, so they’ll be hoping to save face as big underdogs in this one.
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Emmett Johnson, their standout running back, has had a tremendous season with 1,451 rushing yards on 251 carries, plus 12 touchdowns. He’s supported by QB Dylan Raiola, who surpassed 2,000 passing yards for the year.
The Utah Utes come into this game as heavy favorites against Nebraska, looking for their first-ever win over the Cornhuskers. The Utes are 10–2, ranked 15th in the nation, and are heading to their sixth Las Vegas Bowl appearance.
Utah is riding a five-game winning streak, with its only losses this season coming against BYU and Texas Tech. They are now considered a Big 12 powerhouse and will look to keep that status next season with a well-coached, disciplined team.
We have two very different stories for this game: a successful Utah team with a strong end-of-season record looking to cap it with a bowl win, and a wishy-washy Nebraska team trying to avoid losing its unbeaten streak in the series against the Utes, while also taking home a bowl victory.
Our pick is Utah -14 for this game, due to their better-equipped squad. Covering 14 points in a game is a lot to ask, but Utah has what it takes.
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Pick
Utah -14
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