A couple of schools that like running the football, Head Coach Mel Tucker and the Colorado Buffaloes (+29) are set to face off against the No. 6 Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. ABC is scheduled to broadcast the action and the opening kickoff for this conference matchup is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. When the two squads faced one another last year, Utah won easily 30-7.
Betting Preview: Utah Utes vs. Colorado Buffaloes
Utah has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 29 points to Colorado. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points. If one side finds paydirt early on, it would likely produce a worthy live betting opportunity.
Odds have moved from when they were first posted. The opening line was -28, while the game’s total has yet to change after being initially posted at 49.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this season as the Buffaloes have gained 5.8 units while the Utes are up 3.3 units.
The Buffaloes have gone 5-6 straight up (SU), including 3-5 SU against conference opponents. The Utes are 10-1 SU overall and are also 7-1 SU in conference play.
The Buffaloes got their second W in as many tries after a 20-14 win over Washington last week. Steven Montez completed 17-of-28 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown. Alex Fontenot (105 rushing yards on 24 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Montez (56 yards on six carries) led the ground attack. Laviska Shenault Jr. (seven receptions, 100 yards, one TD) and Tony Brown (four catches, 42 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Utah is coming off of a 35-7 win over Arizona. The defensive unit held its territory in the victory, keeping the Wildcats to only 135 passing yards and 61 yards on the ground. Cedric Peterson had a productive outing in the loss for Arizona, accounting for 63 yards on four catches. For Utah, Tyler Huntley completed 19-of-23 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Zack Moss (203 rushing yards on 26 attempts, one TD) mounted the running game as Demari Simpkins (four receptions, 34 yards, one TD) and Brant Kuithe (four catches, 81 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Colorado’s run the ball on 51.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Utah has a rush percentage of 65.5 percent. The Buffaloes have run for 158.5 yards/game (including 163.4 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Utes are putting up 215.3 rush yards per game (211.3 in conference) and have 31 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then it appears the Utes should hold an edge in all aspects of the ground game, since their running backs has produced 5.0 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 2.3 to opponents. The Buffaloes have ran for 4.3 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.4 to opponents.
The Buffaloes offense has logged 245.5 yards/game through the air overall (234.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 16 passing scores so far. The Utes have produced 245.7 pass yards per contest (258 in the Pac-12) and have 15 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Colorado has allowed opponents to run for an average of 148.7 yards and pass for 299.5 yards per game. The Utah D has given up 187.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 55.9 yards per game on the ground. The Utes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.85 to opposing QBs, while the Buffaloes have allowed a 7.65 ANY/A.
Offensively, Montez is up to 2,465 passing yards this season, and has connected on 218-of-349 attempts with 15 scores through the air and nine interceptions. He’s got a 6.25 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
On the other sideline, Tyler Huntley has connected on 160-of-214 passes for 2,273 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs. Huntley’s ANY/A stands at 10.65 for the season and 12.20 over his past two games.
Colorado Buffaloes at Utah Utes NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Utah, ATS Winner: Colorado, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- The O/U for Colorado’s previous game was set at 53. The under cashed in the team’s 20-14 win over Washington.
- Colorado has averaged 4.3 yards per rush attempt across its last three contests and 4.6 over its last two.
- Utah has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.7 over its last two.
- The Utah offense has lost nine fumbles this season while Colorado has let two get away.
- In its last three matches, Colorado is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Utah’s last outing was 56. The under cashed in the team’s 35-7 victory over Arizona.
- Over its last three games, Utah is 3-0 ATS.
- The Buffaloes offense has created five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Utes have put up 13 such plays.
- The Colorado defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, while Utah has given up four such plays.
- The Colorado offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Utah has created 16 such runs.
- The Buffaloes defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Utes have given up two such runs.
- The Utah defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 24 times this year. Colorado has produced 22 sacks.
