Utah Utes vs Baylor Bears: A College Football Preview

Background

The Utah Utes and Baylor Bears are two of the top teams in the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences, respectively. Both teams are coming off of successful seasons in 2022, and they are both looking to make a run at the College Football Playoff in 2023.

The Utes are led by head coach Kyle Whittingham, who is entering his 18th season at the helm of the program. Whittingham has led the Utes to nine conference championships and two Rose Bowl victories during his tenure.

The Bears are led by head coach Dave Aranda, who is entering his fourth season at the helm of the program. Aranda led the Bears to a Big 12 championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2021.

Key Players

The Utes and Bears both have a number of talented players who will be key to their success in 2023.

For the Utes, some of the key players include quarterback Cam Rising, running back Tavion Thomas, and wide receiver Devaughn Vele.

For the Bears, some of the key players include quarterback Blake Shapen, running back Richard Reese, and wide receiver Monaray Baldwin.

Matchup

The Utes and Bears are scheduled to face off in the season opener on September 1, 2023, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The game is expected to be a close one, as both teams are evenly matched on paper.

The Utes have a slight edge in experience, but the Bears have a more talented roster.

Prediction

The Utes are a slight favorite to win the game, but the Bears are a dangerous team that is capable of pulling off an upset.

The game is likely to be decided by which team makes the fewest mistakes and which team is able to take advantage of its opportunities.

Ultimately, I predict that the Utes will win the game by a score of 27-24.