Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

Pac-12 Football: Way too early Pac-12 bowl predictions

By David Rosenthal

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: An exterior view of the Rose Bowl efore the game between the New Mexico State Aggies and the UCLA Bruins on September 21, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: An exterior view of the Rose Bowl efore the game between the New Mexico State Aggies and the UCLA Bruins on September 21, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Isaac Asiata #54 of the Utah Utes, head coach Kyle Whittingham and Hunter Dimick #49 celebrate after a win against the Indiana Hoosiers during the Foster Farms Bowl game at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Isaac Asiata #54 of the Utah Utes, head coach Kyle Whittingham and Hunter Dimick #49 celebrate after a win against the Indiana Hoosiers during the Foster Farms Bowl game at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

5. Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. ACC

Utah vs Georgia Tech

The triple option run by Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson will again be in full force in 2018. While it has never brought him National Championship success, Johnson has had only four losing seasons since 2002. Unfortunately for him, last year was one of those losing seasons. Returning TaQuon Marshall (1,146 rushing yards) and KirVonte Benson (1,053 rushing yards) will help the Yellow Jackets’ ground attack. Perhaps an improved Georgia Tech red zone defense (130th in 2017) would equate to more victories as three of their losses last year were by a combined six points.

I was tempted to put Utah in a better bowl game as the Utes have two Friday night games on their schedule this season. And as any fan of the PAC-12 knows, late Friday night games seem to go Utah’s way. Last year the Utes hit a rough patch in the middle of the year losing four games in a row. They turned it around against UCLA but then ran into a hot Washington and Washington State. This year they get Washington, USC, and Oregon at home. The kinder schedule could get Utah closer to a nine win season than most people have predicted.