| 31 December 2011
Played in El Paso, Texas, the Hyundai Sun Bowl offers a matchup of Georgia Tech from the ACC against Pac-12 newcomer Utah.
Georgia Tech opened the year 6-0 for the first time since its national title season of 1990 but lost four of its last six games to finish 8-4. The Yellow Jackets will be looking to end the season on a high note and also end a six-game bowl losing streak behind their powerful triple-option rushing attack that was second in the nation in rushing yards at 316.8 yards a game.
Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, they are going up against a team perfectly suited to counter them. Utah has the nation’s 7th-best defense against the run, yielding only 98.3 yards a game. Furthermore, the Utes are one of the few teams in the country who are used to facing the triple-option having spent years going up against Air Force in the WAC and Mountain West prior to moving to the Pac-12. In their first year in the Pac-12, the Utes struggled at first, starting out 3-4 and 0-4 in conference play while losing starting quarterback Jordan Wynn to a season-ending injury.
Utah turned things around and won four in a row before an inexplicable loss to hapless Colorado in the season finale cost the Utes a chance at winning the Pac-12 South and facing Oregon in the Pac-12 title game.
Key matchup: Each team’s run defense vs. the other’s ground game
Georgia Tech QB Tevin Washington (L) could be in for a rough day against Utah's defense while Utah RB John White (R) looks to exploit a porous Tech defense
Georgia Tech lives and dies by running the football. If Utah can stop the Yellow Jackets’ potent ground attack, Georgia Tech will be in for a long day. On the other side, Utah has struggled on offense all season. The Utes’ only consistent weapon has been running back John White, who is 9th nationally with 1,404 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. He’ll be facing a Georgia Tech defense that has struggled against the run, averaging 162.9 yards allowed a game. As he goes, so go the Utes. Utah is 99th nationally in passing offense. Against Colorado, the running game was bottled up, and quarterback Jon Hays proved unable to make enough plays through the air to win the game. Whichever team can best slow the other team’s running game will win this one.
Why you should watch: Utah is 6-1 in bowl games under Kyle Whittingham and earned a reputation as a BCS buster during their time in the Mountain West. Will that trend continue now that they have joined the ranks of the big boys? If you like tough, physical football, then this game is for you as both teams like to pound the rock. For football purists, Georgia Tech’s option offense is a thing of beauty. It’s a matchup of unstoppable force against immovable object and Georgia Tech’s powerful rushing attack goes up against Utah’s stalwart run defense.
Why you shouldn’t watch: For fans who like to see footballs travel through the air, this is not the game for you. Georgia Tech rarely passes, and Utah probably shouldn’t. If any team in the country can slow down Georgia Tech, it’d be Utah. If the Yellow Jackets can slow down White, it’s going to be a boring game as Utah does not fare well throwing the ball. This one could be ugly.
Prediction: I like Utah in this one. I’ve learned never to doubt Kyle Whittingham, and he’ll have the Utes ready to play. Between their sturdy defense and experience facing the triple-option, I think the Utes can slow down Georgia Tech’s running game. The Yellow Jackets will limit White, but Utah will make just enough plays to win a low-scoring game.
