Utah vs. Southern Utah: Prediction and Preview
Week 1 of the college football season is here. Utah plays Southern Utah, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Thursday, August 29; 8:00 p.m. (CT); Rice-Eccles Stadium; Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: ESPN+
Utah vs. Southern Utah betting odds: N/A – ESPN Matchup Predictor: Utah (98.3%)
Records: No. 12 Utah (0-0); Southern Utah (0-0)
Last Week: N/A
Series History: Utah leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Utah 73, Southern Utah 7 (2022)
Fun Fact: The last time these two teams met, the score was tied 7-7 heading into the second quarter, and it appeared the Utes could be in for something of a scare. A 38-point second quarter ended any doubts about the outcome, though, as Cam Rising went 17-of-23 (74%) for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
KEY PLAYERS
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
OFFENSIVE PLAYER
RB Braelon Wissler: After an outstanding season in 2023, running back Braelon Wissler appears to be the focal point of the Thunderbirds’ offense heading into 2024. With career passing leader Justin Miller now gone, the running game figures to be the team’s leading rusher this year. In ’23, Wissler totaled 686 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground with 186 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER
DL Rylen Sua-Filo: Among the best players on SUU’s roster, defensive lineman Rylen Sua-Filo will be the player to watch when the Thunderbirds are on defense. A season ago, Sua-Filo racked up 28 tackles, including 11 solo (17 assists), alongside two sacks and seven quarterback hits. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound anchor was a major reason why SUU allowed just 106 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Utah Utes
OFFENSIVE PLAYER
QB Cam Rising: Utah has College Football Playoff aspirations in 2024, and the vast majority of those hopes fall squarely on the shoulders of super-senior quarterback Cam Rising. In two full seasons (2021-22) with the Utes, Rising passed for over 5,500 yards with 46 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. After missing the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injury, Rising is back and ready to cap off his collegiate career in style.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER
DL Junior Tafuna: A three-time Pac-12 All-Conference defender and the 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defender of the Year, Junior Tafuna anchors what should be a strong defensive unit for the Utes in 2024. In three seasons as a starter, Tafuna has piled up 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and five pass breakups. Listed at 6-foot-3, 308 pounds, Tafuna will be one of the best run-stuffers in the Big 12 in 2024.
KEY STORYLINES
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds opened up their 2023 season on a Thursday night in Tempe, Arizona, and nearly walked out of there with a win. A narrow 24-21 victory for the Sun Devils was the final outcome, but solid play along the offensive and defensive lines kept them in the game until the very end. SUU is hoping that the same formula will give them a solid showing against what should be the Big 12’s premiere team in 2024. Southern Utah has UAC title game hopes this year, and a strong showing against the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium would be an excellent start.
Utah Utes
The biggest storyline for the Utes in this game will probably be their inaugural contest as members of the Big 12, the return of Cam Rising under center, or perhaps how healthy he can stay this year in a wide open conference. Seeing a strong connection between Rising and a healthy list of offensive weapons will be the key thing to watch in this one. If Dorian Singer and Brant Kuithe can live up to the preseason expectations, this team could be very, very dangerous.
PREDICTION: Utah 55, Southern Utah 10
The last time Utah and SUU faced off, it was a slaughtering. While 73-7 would certainly be more lopsided than I’d expect given how much better SUU is at this point, a blowout victory, and abig showing from Rising feels like a reasonable expectation
