Utah at Northwestern - 2023 Matchup Preview

Saturday, December 23rd 2023 (7:30 PM EST)
Utah -6.5 (44.5) (-275) Open: -7.0 | 42.0
Northwestern 14 - Utah: 7 (SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl)

Utes (8 - 5) (6 - 6 - 1)
Coach Kyle Whittingham (157 - 74)
Avg Score : 24 - 21 (24 - 25 on Road)
Record Prediction: 6.7 - 6.3 (#63)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Bowl Game Opt Outs
Our Line: Utah -7.5 (SP+ UTAH -9.5)
Projected Score: UTAH: 26 - NW: 19 (44)
UTAH Win prob: 68% | Cover: 48%
UTAH Travel: 1251 miles, 1 hrs behind

Wildcats (8 - 5) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach David Braun (1 - 2)
Avg Score : 18 - 26 (18 - 26 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 6.1 - 6.9 (#73)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
Bowls
UTAH Players
NW Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Utah's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/31	Utah vs Florida	-5.5	44.5	W 24 - 11	U	Y
Sat 9/9	Utah at Baylor	-7.0	46.5	W 20 - 13	U	N
Sat 9/16	Utah vs Weber State	-26.5	44.0	W 31 - 7	U	N
Sat 9/23	Utah vs UCLA	-3.0	50.5	W 14 - 7	U	Y
Fri 9/29	Utah at Oregon State	+4.0	43.0	L 7 - 21	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/14	Utah vs California	-9.0	42.5	W 34 - 14	O	Y
Sat 10/21	Utah at USC	+7.5	51.5	W 34 - 32	O	Y
Sat 10/28	Utah vs Oregon	+6.5	47.5	L 6 - 35	U	N
Sat 11/4	Utah vs Arizona State	-11.0	40.5	W 55 - 3	O	Y
Sat 11/11	Utah at Washington	+9.5	48.5	L 28 - 35	O	Y
Sat 11/18	Utah at Arizona	+2.5	45.5	L 18 - 42	O	N
Sat 11/25	Utah vs Colorado	-21.5	43.5	W 23 - 17	U	N
Sat 12/23	Utah vs Northwestern	-6.5	44.5	L 7 - 14	U	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Utah's Schedule

Northwestern's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sun 9/3	Northwestern at Rutgers	+5.0	39.0	L 7 - 24	U	N
Sat 9/9	Northwestern vs UTEP	-1.0	40.0	W 38 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/16	Northwestern at Duke	+17.0	48.0	L 14 - 38	O	N
Sat 9/23	Northwestern vs Minnesota	+11.5	39.5	W 37 - 34	O	Y
Sat 9/30	Northwestern vs Penn State	+27.0	48.0	L 13 - 41	O	N
Sat 10/7	Northwestern vs Howard	-23.0	51.0	W 23 - 20	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/21	Northwestern at Nebraska	+10.5	40.0	L 9 - 17	U	Y
Sat 10/28	Northwestern vs Maryland	+14.0	48.5	W 33 - 27	O	Y
Sat 11/4	Northwestern vs Iowa	+4.5	30.5	L 7 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/11	Northwestern at Wisconsin	+9.5	43.5	W 24 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/18	Northwestern vs Purdue	-2.5	47.5	W 23 - 15	U	Y
Sat 11/25	Northwestern at Illinois	+5.0	46.5	W 45 - 43	O	Y
Sat 12/23	Northwestern vs Utah	+6.5	44.5	W 14 - 7	U	Y

Important Stats (2022)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
UTAH	.28	51%	23.6	54%	3.54	218	48%	249	4.16	.17	39%	20.7	41%	38%	3.86	40.2	1.3	2.3
NW	.01	37%	17.8	38%	2.63	125	38%	210	2.67	.17	45%	26.3	46%	44%	4.03	40.8	2.5	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
UTAH		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NW		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2022

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
UTAH Offense	14	23.6	24.2	51%	4.16	1.3	26	467	218	249	5.4	51%	49%	54%	48%	12%	.28
NW Defense	12	26.3	26.3	45.1%	4.03	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	59%	41%	46%	44%	13%	.17

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
UTAH Defense	14	20.7	24.5	39.1%	3.86	2.3	-	-	-	-	-	43%	56%	41%	38%	19%	.17
NW Offense	12	17.8	17.8	37.2%	2.67	2.5	19	335	125	210	3.2	51%	47%	38%	38%	18%	.01

Additional Stats 2022

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Utah	14	33:40	25.9	51%	62%	4.5	40.2	1.3	2.3	5.9	2.9	3	32.2
Northwestern	12	29:01	19	37%	49%	4.6	40.8	2.5	1.5	4.5	1.9	0	26.9

Run Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
UTAH Offense	14	51%	54%	40	217.7	5.4	38	.31	3.54	81%	7%	0.99
NW Defense	12	59%	46%	-	-	-	-	.16	3.16	74%	8%	0.92

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
UTAH Defense	14	43%	41%	-	-	-	-	.17	2.91	69%	13%	1.16
NW Offense	12	51%	38%	39.1	125.1	3.2	11	-.04	2.63	67%	9%	0.86

Pass Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
UTAH Offense	14	49%	48%	20.6	31.9	249.2	7.8	12.1	31	10	.26	1.4	27%	36%	.47	5%	2
NW Defense	12	41%	44%	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	.22	1.3	29%	29%	.16	4%	1.7

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
UTAH Defense	14	56%	38%	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	.19	1.7	34%	28%	.22	6%	2.2
NW Offense	12	47%	38%	20.4	34.8	210.3	6.1	10.3	10	17	.15	1.4	33%	21%	.04	9%	1.9

Utah's Power Ratings
Utah's Power Rating: 4.51 #38
Utah's Offense Rating: 13.26 #97
Utah's Defense Rating: 6.62 #37
2023 Talent Rating: 760.00 #35
Blue Chip Ratio: 24% #27
Utah's 2023 Expected Record: 6.70 - 6.30
Utah's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: 8.3 #35
Utah's Offense SP+ Rating: 27.7 #60
Utah's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.5 #26

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 676
Average Power Five Talent: 811.88
Average FBS Talent: 636.78

Power Ratings Matchup
Utah: 4.51 Northwestern: -0.98

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Utah: 8.3 Northwestern: -1.4

Northwestern's Power Ratings
Northwestern's Power Rating: -0.98 #66
Northwestern's Offense Rating: 15.21 #79
Northwestern's Defense Rating: 9.49 #66
2023 Talent Rating: 682.00 #54
Blue Chip Ratio: 10 #49
Northwestern's 2023 Expected Record: 6.10 - 6.90
Northwestern's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -1.4 #71
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #104
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9 #30

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 821.44
Average Power Five Talent: 811.88
Average FBS Talent: 636.78

Utah Scoring
Offense: 23.6 PPG
Offense on Road: 24.2
Defense: 20.7 PPG
Defense on Road: 24.5

Utah's 2023 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 1
Record on Road: 2 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 2 - 2 - 1
Record as Fav vs Spread: 4 - 3 - 1
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Utah 26
Northwestern 19

Projected Total Points: 44

Northwestern Scoring
Offense: 17.8 PPG
Offense at Home: 17.8
Defense: 26.3 PPG
Defense at Home: 26.3

Northwestern's 2023 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Record at home: 5 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 7 - 3 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 2 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Winner	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2023	12/23	Northwestern	14	Utah	7	Northwestern	Utah -6.5	Northwestern	44.5	Under
2018	12/31	Utah	20	Northwestern	31	Northwestern	Utah -7	Northwestern	43.0	Over

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northwestern	2	2	1 Overs
Utah	0	0	1 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 1	1 - 1	0 - 1	1 - 0
Road Teams	1 - 1	1 - 1	0 - 1	1 - 0

Utah Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2023	Vegas Bowl	Utah vs Northwestern	-6.5	44.5	L 7 - 14
2022	Rose Bowl	Utah vs Penn State	+1.5	55.5	L 21 - 35
2021	Rose Bowl	Utah vs Ohio State	+4.5	64.5	L 45 - 48
2019	N/A	Utah vs Texas	-7.5	57.0	L 10 - 38
2018	N/A	Utah vs Northwestern	-7.0	43.0	L 20 - 31
2017	Dallas Bowl	Utah vs West Virginia	-6.5	56.0	W 30 - 14

Northwestern Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2023	Vegas Bowl	Northwestern vs Utah	+6.5	44.5	W 14 - 7
2020	Citrus Bowl	Northwestern vs Auburn	-3.5	43.5	W 35 - 19
2018	N/A	Northwestern vs Utah	+7.0	43.0	W 31 - 20
2017	N/A	Northwestern vs Kentucky	-7.5	50.5	W 24 - 23

(#38) Utah Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: 4.51 #38
Offense Rating: 13.26 #97
Defense Rating: 6.62 #37
Overall SP+ Rating: 8.3 #35
Offense SP+ Rating: 27.7 #60
Defense SP+ Rating: 20.5 #26
Talent Rating: 760.00 #35
Blue Chip Ratio: 24% #27
Expected Record: 6.70 - 6.30

Team Profile

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Utah has played in 5 Bowls in the last 5 years (0 - 5)
Utah has played in 19 Bowls since 2000 (13 - 6)

Utah Ratings Matchup Northwestern

Power #38

#66

Off #97

#79

Def #37

#66

Talent #35

#54

SP+ #35

#71

SP+ Off #60

#104

SP+ Def #26

#30

Rematch from Week 1
Utah 6.5 (44.5)
Northwestern won vs Utah this year (14-7)

Previous Matchups
Northwestern beat Utah in 2023 (14-7)

Weather Forecast
Playing in Allegiant Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: UTAH | NW
Depth Chart: UTAH | NW
Rosters: UTAH | NW

(#66) Northwestern Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: -0.98 #66
Offense Rating: 15.21 #79
Defense Rating: 9.49 #66
Overall SP+ Rating: -1.4 #71
Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #104
Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9 #30
Talent Rating: 682.00 #54
Blue Chip Ratio: 10 #49
Expected Record: 6.10 - 6.90

Team Profile

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Northwestern has played in 3 Bowls in the last 5 years (3 - 0)
Northwestern has played in 14 Bowls since 2000 (6 - 8)

Utah's OC Andy Ludwig

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Bryson Barnes	77	126	61%	856	12	6	6.8
Cameron Rising	34	66	52%	555	7	3	8.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Micah Bernard (Tr)	197	1009	4	5.1	64
Ja'Quinden Jackson	149	790	15	5.3	46
Bryson Barnes	68	530	5	7.8	63
Charlie Vincent	14	44	0	3.1	6

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Brant Kuithe	35	505	6	14.4	71
Money Parks	21	294	3	14.0	71
Mikey Matthews	34	292	1	8.6	46
Micah Bernard (Tr)	30	150	2	5.0	19

View Utah's Full Roster

Utah's DC Morgan Scalley

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Karene Reid	54	6	3	1	1
Van Fillinger	43	8	5	1	5
Jadon Pearson	42	3	0	1	2
Zemaiah Vaughn	39	5	2	0	5

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Van Fillinger	43	8	5	1	5
Karene Reid	54	6	3	1	1
Connor O'Toole	22	5	3	0	0
Zemaiah Vaughn	39	5	2	0	5

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Zemaiah Vaughn	39	5	2	0	5
Van Fillinger	43	8	5	1	5
JaTravis Broughton	38	0	0	0	3

Northwestern's OC Mike Bajakian

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Brendan Sullivan	38	53	72%	474	3	3	8.9
Ryan Hilinski	9	15	60%	121	0	1	8.1

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Anthony Tyus III	237	1215	9	5.1	46
Brendan Sullivan	47	151	4	3.2	30
Jacob Gill	5	13	0	2.6	9
A.J. Henning (Tr)	5	8	0	1.6	9

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
A.J. Henning (Tr)	59	603	4	10.2	46
Bryce Kirtz	39	598	0	15.3	55
Jacob Gill	35	411	2	11.7	59
Thomas Gordon	27	252	1	9.3	26

View Northwestern's Full Roster

Northwestern's DC Vacant

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Xander Mueller	57	5	1	1	4
Nigel Williams	53	0	0	0	2
Garnett Hollis Jr.	46	1	0	0	6
Jaheem Joseph	42	1	1	1	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Reginald Pearson	21	4	2	0	0
Xander Mueller	57	5	1	1	4
Rod Heard	37	2	1	1	4
Grayson Metz	32	2	1	0	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Garnett Hollis Jr.	46	1	0	0	6
Xander Mueller	57	5	1	1	4
Rod Heard	37	2	1	1	4