5 things to know about Nebraska vs. Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl

Nebraska football has one game left to play — the Las Vegas Bowl — which might be hard to remember with all of the offseason news.

This game is important for the Huskers, though. Utah is 10-2. The Utes are ranked 15th, and this is a chance once again for Matt Rhule and his program to show progress.

I know bowl games don’t matter, not like they used to. But it mattered for Nebraska last season, and if it matters next week, these players will make Nebraska proud, even if that doesn’t mean winning the game.

It won’t be easy to do. However, Utah is going through some things, too, as Kyle Whittingham, who was expected to coach the game, is now headed to Michigan. Head-coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley has taken over one game earlier than expected.

Looking ahead to the Dec. 31 football game, here are five things to know about Nebraska vs. Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl,. starting with odds and how to watch.

Las Vegas Bowl odds

Nebraska football is a 14-point underdog against the Utes. The over/under is 50.5, and the moneyline is +400 for Nebraska and -535 for Utah.

Las Vegas Bowl: How to watch

Nebraska and Utah will play in Las Vegas on Dec. 31 at 3:30 PM EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. Huskers.com will have radio coverage (for free).

Run defense will be tested

There are reports that Kyle Whittingham will try to take OC Jason Beck, but that probably doesn’t happen before the bowl game.

Utah had the fifth-best scoring offense in college football this season (47 points per game). The Utes rushed for 269 yards per game, but also passed for 25 touchdowns, and averaged 208 yards per game through the air.

Nebraska is allowing 171 rushing yards per game. It has allowed numerous teams to rush for over 200 yards. With Phil Snow coordinating the defense, and some others, such as Matt Rhule, helping to coach the defensive line, you have to think the run defense will be better.

John Butler was trying to do too much. Asking college players to make NFL plays is when you get in trouble, so I expect them to play faster, harder, and better.

How much will that matter? We’ll find out in a few days.

TJ Lateef is healthy

On Friday, Lateef told reporters he was “good to go.” There were some limitations on him when bowl practices started, but it seems like the hamstring is better.

It would be nice to see what Lateef can do against a top-15 team with a very good pass defense that was 18th in points allowed in college football this season. If he balls out, it will make it harder for someone to take the starting job from him.

Nebraska is going to add a couple of quarterbacks from the transfer portal. It has no choice, but Lateef has the job right now. He can make sure he holds onto it with a stellar game on Saturday.

This program hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 2016. If that happens with Lateef at quarterback, that will be a good reason to keep him as the starter moving forward.

New running backs for Nebraska football

Outside of Emmett Johnson, the Huskers had one of the weakest running back rooms in college football. It was obvious last offseason.

Johnson carried the room and led the Big Ten in rushing. However, Nebraska football still ranked outside the top 80 in rushing yards because it basically got no rushing production from anyone but Johnson.

The other running backs on the roster combined for 268 yards. That’s it. Kwinten Ives is the second-leading rusher with 119 yards, and he hasn’t carried the ball since Houston Christian.

Isaiah Mozee (83 rushing yards) and Mekhi Nelson (59 rushing yards) are listed as the co-starters. Mozee averaged 4.4 yards per attempt this season.

Nelson got 3.9, but it will be good to get an extended look at both against a Utah defense that gives up more rushing yards per game (182) than Nebraska and 4.9 yards per attempt.

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