2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl – The Utah Utes (7-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 4-8 O/U) and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-4 SU, 5-6-1 ATS, 7-5 O/U) will both be looking to close out their respective 2011 campaigns with a victory when they meet in the 2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl on December 31 at 2:00 PM ET, live from the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Both teams will also be looking to get back in the win column after losing their respective regular season closers.

2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl
Utah vs. Georgia Tech
Dec. 31 at 2:00 PM ET
Where: Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
TV: CBS
Pick: CLICK HERE FOR THE WINNING BETTING PICK
Point Spread: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-3.5) vs. Utah Utes (+3.5) Over/Under 50.5

Utah had its four-game SU winning streak snapped by losing to Colorado 17-14 as an insane 22.5-point home favorite in its closer while Georgia Tech was on the wrong end of a 31-17 home loss to Georgia as a 4.5-point underdog.

Georgia Tech ranks third in the nation in rushing by averaging a jaw-dropping 316.8 yards per game on the ground, but Utah’s excellent defense has held its opponents to a paltry 19.7 points per game (18th).

While the Utes got a fine season out of running back John White IV (1,405 yds, 14 TDs) junior quarterback John Hays struggled to throw the ball like crazy in tossing just nine TD strikes and seven interceptions.

Georgia Tech got a fantastic campaign out of do-it-all junior quarterback Tevin Washington as he led the team in both, passing and rushing, though he did thro just 10 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, to limit the Yellow Jackets to mostly a one-dimensional team.

Utah s 12-4 all-time in bowl games but lost to Boise State 26-3 in the 2010 Maaco Bowl. Georgia Tech is 22-15 all-time in bowl games but has lost six straight postseason contests, including their 14-7 loss to Iowa in the 2010 Independence Bowl.

CLICK HERE FOR THE UTAH VS. GEORGIA TECH WINNING PICK
CLICK HERE FOR FREE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

Here is a look at both teams’ key trends this season.

Utah Utes:
Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Utes are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 bowl games.
Utes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Utes are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Utes last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-4 in Utes last 14 games overall.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:
Yellow Jackets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Yellow Jackets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in December.
Yellow Jackets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 bowl games.
Yellow Jackets are 0-5 SU in their last 5 Bowl games as a favorite.
Yellow Jackets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Bowl games.
Under is 7-1 in Yellow Jackets last 8 games following a S.U. loss.
Under is 5-2 in Yellow Jackets last 7 games overall.

If you enjoyed this Utah vs. Georgia Tech Sun Bowl pick and point spread preview, be sure to visit Touthouse.com this entire bowl season for winning college football predictions from our professional sports handicappers.