SPORTS

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt Likes BYU’s Chances Against Utah

Aug 27, 2019, 9:06 AM | Updated: Aug 29, 2019, 9:35 am

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 08:  Scott Van Pelt attends the 2015 CLIO Sports Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street...

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 08: Scott Van Pelt attends the 2015 CLIO Sports Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on July 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for CLIO Sports Awards)

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for CLIO Sports Awards)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – ESPN SportsCenter personality Scott Van Pelt has a segment during the college football season on “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt” titled “Winner$.”

Every Thursday night during the college season, Van Pelt gives his best bets for the upcoming week around the country.

During Monday night’s edition of SC with SVP, Van Pelt was previewing the upcoming Winners segment.

With No. 14 Utah vs. BYU taking place Thursday night, the rivalry game won’t factor in Van Pelt’s week one Winners picks but he still had to weigh in on the big game last night on his show.

“Winners! We follow Utah-BYU, Holy War. If that game was Saturday, I would one billion percent be on BYU, plus the points,” said Van Pelt.

Van Pelt continued, “I mean come on, they (BYU) are getting less than a touchdown and people are saying Utah’s going to the title game? I’m just saying if it was Saturday, I’d have them. But it’s a Thursday game, so we’ll have to look elsewhere.”

BYU and Utah have never opened a regular season against one another. Utah is currently ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering the season. The highest-ranking the Utes have received for a pre-season poll.

The last time BYU defeated Utah was in 2009. The Utes have won eight straight against the Cougars. Kickoff from LaVell Edwards Stadium on Thursday night is set for 8:15 p.m. (MDT).

Pregame coverage of the big rivalry game will take place on KSL 5 TV and the KSL TV app (Apple, Google, Roku) beginning at 7 p.m. (MDT).

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt Likes BYU’s Chances Against Utah