LAS VEGAS BOWL

**Brigham Young versus California**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed California as a seven-point ‘chalk’ over Brigham Young, with the total set at 62. ESPN will provide coverage of the Las Vegas Bowl from Sam Boyd Stadium starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 22.



–Brigham Young (6-5 straight up, 5-5 against the spread) is representing the Mountain West Conference after finishing tied for second place with Colorado State with a 5-3 conference ledger. The Cougars were riding a three-game winning streak both SU and ATS before falling to rival Utah in overtime Nov. 19 as a 10-point home favorite, 41-34. The combined 75 points eclipsed the 58-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the fifth game in a row.

–BYU rallied from a 24-3 halftime deficit by posting 21 points in the third quarter. The Cougars finished the contest leading the Utes in passing yards (309-240), while trailing Utah in first downs (24-20), rushing yards (251-176) and time of possession (31:55-28:05).

–Quarterback John Beck was 27-of-47 passing for 309 yards with two touchdowns, while Curtis Brown paced the ground game with 20 carries for 153 yards and two scores. Wideout Jonny Harline caught four passes for 46 yards, and Matt Allen had three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.

–California (7-4 SU, 3-7 ATS) punched its ticket to Las Vegas by finishing tied for fifth place in the Pac-10 Conference. The Golden Bears had dropped back-to-back games SU and five consecutive ATS before beating Stanford Nov. 19 as a 4 1/2-point road ‘chalk,’ 27-3. The combined 30 points never seriously threatened the 52-point closing total.

–Cal went into halftime with a slim 6-3 lead before dominating the second half. The Golden Bears finished the contest with advantages in first downs (19-18) and rushing yards (226-16), while trailing in passing yards (228-139).

–Signal caller Steve Levy completed 10-of-18 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and ran eight times for an additional 36 yards. Running back Marshawn Lynch had 24 carries for 123 yards and a score, and wideout DeSean Jackson caught two passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.

–The Cougars beat the Golden Bears back in 2001 as a 5 1/2-point road favorite, 44-16, while the combined 60 points went ‘over’ the 54-point closing total.

–BYU defensive end Manaia Brown (neck) is ‘doubtful’ versus the Golden Bears, while free safety K.C. Bills (concussion) is ‘probable.’ Cornerback Nate Soelberg is expected to play after suffering an arm injury.

–California defensive tackle Matthew Malele is expected to miss this matchup with the Cougars due to a knee injury.

–Game-day forecast for Las Vegas calls for mostly sunny skies, with a high of 59 degrees and a low of 37.