2011 Hyndai Sun Bowl Overview
2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl Overview
El Paso has been a venue for a bowl game for more than 75 years. Utah
was a participant in one of the very first Sun Bowls, and now the Utes
return as a member of one of the BCS conferences for the first time. On
New Year’s Eve, Utah will take on Georgia Tech of the ACC in the 78th
annual Hyundai Sun Bowl.
The only time these two teams have played each other came in the 2005
Emerald Bowl in Seattle, with the Utes posting a 38-10 victory over a
nationally ranked Yellow Jacket squad. The Utes’ only other Sun Bowl
invite was in 1939 with a 26-0 victory over New Mexico.
Our latest Sun Bowl spread has Georgia Tech as a 3-point favorite, while the total has been set for 51 points.
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets started the year 6-0, but limped in with a 2-4
finish, ending with a 31-17 defeat to in-state rival Georgia in the last
game. The Yellow Jackets did beat Duke, 38-31, in its ACC closer to
finish tied for second in the ACC Coastal Division (5-3). Tech was 3-2
as a visitor this year.
On offense, Georgia Tech ranks 19th in the nation in scoring (35
points per game) while compiling 462 yards of offense per game (319
rushing, 143 via the pass).
The spread-option ground game is led by three players quarterback
Tevin Washington with 890 yards and 14 touchdowns (4.0 yards per tote),
David Sims with 698 yards and seven TDs (5.2 ypc) and Orwin Smith with
616 yards and 11 touchdowns (10.3 ypc). Washington connects on 57 % of
his passes for 1,515 yards and 10 scores with eight picks. His top
receiver is Stephen Hill with 26 grabs for 785 yards and four
touchdowns.
Defensively, Georgia Tech rates 60th in points allowed (26 ppg) and
surrenders 361 yards per contest (198 passing, 163 rushing) while
totaling 20 sacks and enticing 20 turnovers two of which were returned
for touchdowns (Rod Sweeting and Isaiah Johnson, picks).
Julian Burnett anchors the defense with 113 tackles (44 more than any
other player), adding a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery, while
Jeremiah Attaochu has six sacks, 52 stops, a pick, forced fumble and
fumble recovery.
Utah
The Utes’ first year as a Pac-12 member started unevenly, but
steadied with a late four-game win streak that ended with a 17-14 loss
to Colorado to close the year tied for third in the Pac-12 South
Division (4-5). Utah did post a 4-2 record as a visitor, winning the
last two and three of four.
Utah is one of the better defensive teams in the nation, rating 18th
nationally in points allowed (20 ppg) and giving up 343 yards per game
(246 passing, 97 rushing) while compiling 30 sacks and enticing 32
turnovers four of which were turned into TDs (V.J. Fehoko and Derrick
Shelby, fumbles; Shelby and Conroy Black, interceptions).
Chaz Walker leads the defensive unit with 103 stops (27 more than any
other player), adding two forced fumbles, while Black has four
interceptions, 35 tackles and a fumble recovery. Shelby and Trevor
Reilly each have five sacks and combined for 87 tackles, four forced
fumbles, three recoveries and an interception.
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