Utah in home vs away games

[SalUteopia]

Does anyone else feel like we’re a very different team in home vs away games? Most teams experience this, but maybe our spectacular home record (only 2 losses since 2018, minus the COVID season) further amplifies the difference. Usually, home advantage is worth ~3 points, but it feels more like 7-10 points in Utah’s home games. Which is amazing, but the opposite also seems true — the away games seem tougher than a 3-point disadvantage against a similar opponent. Relatively, I feel more confident about beating a top team at home than an above-average team away.
What’re your thoughts? How do you perceive our performance difference in home vs away games? Do you feel it’s in line with other comparable teams, or is the difference greater?

[PhiladelphiaUte]

Away games are tougher, and especially when…

(1) We’re playing our 2nd (or 3rd) consecutive game(s) on the road
(2) We’re facing a ranked team

In 4 days, we’ll get both. We’re gonna need to play our best game. Mike Gundy had already flat out stated they’re taking this one very seriously. They are respecting their opponent. I hope we will be too.

And for what it’s worth, there are also fewer players on the “travel” team, than during Home games.

[RedUte14]

we could be like the SEC and play 8 games at home… that would be cool

[Utah]

I’m not respecting our opponent.

But if anyone thinks Whitt and his team aren’t…I dunno. They 100% are. Utah has a shot to take down the crowned champ of the Big 12. Make a huge statement.

[2008 National Champ]

We discussed this last year. Until the SC game, Utah had lost on the road to every team with a winning record and beaten every team with a losing record this decade.

Simply put, it’s hard to beat good teams on the road no matter the spread.

[NarfUte]

Alabama has only 1 true road win in the last 5 years over a team who finished ranked. That was #25 8-5 Texas in 2022. It is hard to win true road games against ranked teams (Especially teams who finish ranked)

[Luke R]

I think we may have some recency bias on this. Part of this is because we have only been picked or favored to win away games against good teams over the last several years. To be honest I think you have to have a good defense to stand a chance to beat a good team on the road which Utah does have. You also have to bring some offense which Utah has not had on a consistent basis. If you can score or at least get some exciting offensive plays you can take the crowd out of the equation. If you don’t and try to win with just defense and special teams you will loose most of the time.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

QB play is so crucial on the road. Easy for a young qb to get rattled early and make mistakes. We have seen that over and over with young QBs at home. Rising has the experience to calm the early storm and keep the crowd out of the game.

[tarheelute]

Is this is our “USC” game? I think so, and the Utes will be ready. Excepting a key injury or excessive turnovers, I expect an exciting game and a convincing win. Look for the tight ends, and running backs to be key.

[Author]

Posts