Utah Football Projected To Win 9 Games In 2020 By ESPN’s FPI
Apr 15, 2020, 12:04 PM
Utah Utes defensive end Mika Tafua (42) celebrates a touchdown after picking up a UCLA fumble as Utah and UCLA play a college football game in Salt Lake City at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – ESPN has released their Football Power Index (FPI) for the upcoming 2020 college football season.
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The FPI projected Utah to match the same amount of wins that they had in 2019 with 11. That is based off of how many games Utah is favored to win. But, the FPI lists Utah’s record at 8.6-3.7.
The Football Power Index gives a percentage of a chance to win each game during the season.
ESPN put a glossary at the bottom of the FPI and the portion that the projection for each game says “Team’s projected win percentage in game, based on each team’s current FPI, game location and game type (bowl, FCS, etc.).”
Along with projecting each game, the FPI also ranks the team with a rating. Utah has an 11.2 FPI rating which is No. 24 in the country. Only USC has a higher rating than the Utes among the teams that Utah will face in 2020.
ESPN gives Utah a 0.3% chance of winning out, an 8.1% chance of winning the Pac-12 title and rank their strength of schedule 50th in the nation.
The 2019 #Pac12FB Offensive Player of the Year elevated his game each season with @Utah_Football. 📈
With his physicality and speed the best they've ever been, @PresMoss2 is ready to take on the @NFL. pic.twitter.com/ybBB9Vbt1l
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 11, 2020
vs. BYU
Utah has an 85.7% chance of winning their 10th straight game over rival BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, September 3.
The Cougars have a -1.0 FPI rating which is 74th in the country.
vs. Montana State
The Utes have a 97.2% chance of taking down Montana State at home on Saturday, September 12.
at Wyoming
In Utah’s first road game of the season, they have a 71% chance of beating the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, September 19.
Wyoming has a 1.0 FPI rating which is good for 61st in the country.
at California
Utah’s Pac-12 opener will be on the road against the California Golden Bears on Saturday, September 26. ESPN’s FPI is giving the Utes a 52.5% chance to pick up the road win.
Cal has a 6.1 FPI rating which is No. 42 in the nation.
vs. USC
According to ESPN’s FPI, this game against USC on Friday, October 2 is the only game that Utah isn’t favored to win. The Utes have a 39.1% chance to knock off the Trojans. In the regular season, USC was Utah’s only loss.
The Trojans have a 17.9 FPI rating which is good for 13th in the country.
at Washington State
The Utes will travel to Pullman to face the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, October 10. Utah has a 68.9% chance to pick up the victory.
Washington State’s rating is 1.8 and is No. 58 in the nation.
vs. Washington
Utah will search for their second straight win over Washington when the Huskies come to Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 17. The Utes have a 63.7% chance to win.
Washington has a 9.8 rating which is good for No. 28 in the country.
at UCLA
Utah will head to the Rose Bowl on Thursday, October 29. They have a 64% chance of knocking off the Bruins.
UCLA’s rating is No. 49 in the nation with a 3.4.
vs. Arizona
The Utes will host the Wildcats on Saturday, November 7. Utah has an 82.5% chance to winning the game.
Arizona’s 1.9 FPI rating is 57th in the country.
vs. Oregon State
The Beavers will come to Salt Lake City on Saturday, November 14. Utah has an 85.7% chance to beat Oregon State. It’s the second-highest percentage to win a game and is tied with the BYU game.
Oregon State has a -0.4 FPI rating which is 70th in the nation.
at Arizona State
Utah’s last two games of the regular season will be on the road. They will begin at Arizona State on Saturday, November 21. The Utes have a 63% chance to knock of the Sun Devils in Tempe.
Arizona State received a 3.7 FPI rating which is good for No. 48 in the country.
at Colorado
The final game of the regular season will take place in Boulder against the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, November 28. Utah has a 76.3% chance of beating CU.
Colorado has a -1.3 FPI rating which is good for 75th in the country. It’s the lowest FPI rating on Utah’s schedule (with the exception of Montana State who did not receive a rating).
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
