Utah vs Navy Dec. 20 / 9 p.m
After a great season for Navy that included ending the 43 year jinx against Notre Dame, the Midshipmen come into the Poinsettia Bowl versus Utah without the man that got them there. Paul Johnson is now the head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets so it is up to new coach Ken Niumatalolo. Navy will still run the triple option under Niumatalolo, but will they be able to regularly hit 9 wins like they have with Johnson?
Utah has won 6 straight postseason games, including the past 4 years in a row. After falling to 1-3 after their loss to UNLV back in September, Utah won 7 straight before falling 17-10 @BYU. Navy will be able to run all over the Utes, but Utah will be able to pass anytime they want against the undermatched Midshipmen secondary. If Navy can't slow down the passing game this one could be over fast. Either way it should be better than the other two previous Poinsettia Bowls (TCU crushing Northern Illinois 37-7 last year and Navy running by Colorado State 51-30 two years ago).
Vegas says go with Utah, and that is probably the smart play, but I'm picking Navy in the upset to start off the 2007 postseason the same way the regular season went.
Line (wagerline.com): Utah -9.5, Total 63.5
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