2011 Utah Utes Football Predictions, Odds, Picks and Schedule – 2011 Utah NCAA Football Preview

2011 Utah Utes College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Utah NCAA Football Preview: During the last decade, the Utah football program has quietly been building itself into a powerhouse of the Mountain West Conference. However, the Utes’ days of flying under the radar officially end in 2011-12 as the school prepares for its first season as a member of the PAC-12. Leaving a mid-major conference for one of the six that have ties to a BCS bowl has obvious advantages when it comes to recruiting and revenue. That being said, Utah will now face tougher competition from start to finish than it ever has in the past. The Utes’ first season in their new conference could go a long way to shaping the program’s future.

Utah will make the transition to its new conference coming off a disappointing finish to the 2010-11 campaign. Utah got off to an 8-0 start before stumbling down the stretch, getting hammered by TCU, Boise State and Notre Dame. The good news is that many of the core players from last year’s team return and do so with another year of experience under their belt. The Utes will need every bit of it to handle life in the PAC-12.

Leading the way for Utah is quarterback Jordan Wynn. The junior is 11-4 as a starter and has shown the ability to make all the clutch plays. His command of the offense is his biggest asset, and with Norm Chow calling the shots, the Utes should have no problem averaging more than 30 points per game once again in 2011-12.

Wynn’s top target from a year ago is back in the mix as well. Receiver DeVonte Christopher is the big play target for the offense, helping to stretch the field. Freshman running back Harvey Langi will be given every opportunity to takes the reins of the ground game, running behind an offensive line that boasts a pair of NFL prospects.

Defensively, Utah’s front seven should be one of the best in the conference. Defensive end Dave Kruger, linebacker Brian Belchen and nose tackle Star Lotulelei are all playmakers, and the Utes’ should be as tough as any unit against the run. The downside is that the secondary is inexperienced, which could be an issue against the pass-happy offenses in the PAC-12. Last season, the Utes allowed just over 20 points per game to opponents, and that total should remain about the same this season.  

In terms of the schedule, Utah doesn’t have to wait long to get acquainted with its new conference. After a freebie against Montana State in the opener, the Utes go on the road to play Southern California. They stay on the road the next week as well when they face BYU in the Holy War. The schedule lightens up from there with a home game against Arizona State and road games against Arizona and Pittsburgh looking like the toughest matchups on paper. Perhaps as important as the teams the Utes do play are the teams they don’t. Utah dodges powerhouses Orgeon and Stanford in 2011-12. Of course the fatigue factor could come into play as well as the Utah players adjust to the new level of competition.

Overall, the Utes have enough playmakers on offense and a strong enough defensive unit to have a successful inaugural year in the PAC-12. The Holy War against the Cougars is a toss-up, but in terms of conference games, only the Trojans and Sun Devils appear to have a clear advantage. With USC being ineligible for postseason play, the game against Arizona State could determine whether or not Utah wins the South Division. Even if the Utes come out on the losing end, they could still back into the conference title game if ASU underperforms. In the end, Utah probably comes up short, but a solid season is certainly within reach.

2011 Utah Utes College Football Predictions: 9-3 Record

Preseason 2011 Utah Utes NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: +15000
Odds to Win 2011 PAC 12 Championship: +500
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2011 Utah Utes College Football Schedule
Thu, Sep 1 Montana State 8:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 10 at USC 7:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 17 at Brigham Young 9:15 pm —
Sat, Oct 1 Washington TBA —
Sat, Oct 8 Arizona State TBA —
Sat, Oct 15 at Pittsburgh TBA —
Sat, Oct 22 at California TBA —
Sat, Oct 29 Oregon State TBA —
Sat, Nov 5 at Arizona TBA —
Sat, Nov 12 UCLA TBA —
Sat, Nov 19 at Washington State TBA —
Fri, Nov 25 Colorado 3:30 pm —

Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 College Football Over Under Team Wins Odds and Predictions and 2011 PAC 12 Football Odds and Predictions articles.

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