The Utah Utes will travel upstate to Logan to take on the Utah State Aggies this weekend. Kickoff at Maverik Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. ET and will air on CBS Sports.
The Utes are 20-point favorites on the road in a game where they may be without starting quarterback Cam Rising following his hand injury last week. This game has an over/under of 44.5 points but Rising’s status looms large and these lines could move dramatically if his injury status is revealed one way or the other.
Let’s take a look at my Utah vs Utah State Prediction, Picks, Odds, Spread, How to Watch — College Football Week3.
My Utah vs Utah State Picks
- Utah vs Utah State Prediction: Utah -18 (-110)
Utah vs Utah State Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-18 -110 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | -1200 |
| Utah State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+18 -110 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | +750 |
- Utah vs Utah State Point Spread: Utah -17 (-110) · Utah State +17 (-110)
- Utah vs Utah State Total: Over/Under 43.5
- Utah vs Utah State Moneyline: Utah -1200 · Utah State +750
Utah Football vs Utah State Football Preview
Utah Utes Betting Preview: Cam Rising Questionable With Injury
Utah has been dominant through the first two weeks of the season as they look to be strong contenders to win the Big 12 and qualify for the College Football Playoff. The Utes rank 20th in net EPA per play this season. Utah ranks 58th in EPA per play overall on offense, including 37th in the passing game.
Last weekend, the Utes jumped out to a 23-0 lead against Baylor in the second quarter before sitting on the ball the rest of the game and winning 23-12, which likely brought down their overall numbers.
In this victory, Rising suffered a hand injury after being pushed into the coolers on the sideline, resulting in him exiting the game at 23-0 in the second quarter and the Utes not scoring after his departure. Kyle Whittingham said that the injury is not serious and Rising may have a chance to come back this week but didn’t give any true indication one way or the other. If Rising cannot go, it’ll be true freshman Isaac Wilson, who is averaging -0.33 EPA per dropback in his limited sample this season.
Utah’s defense has been stout this year. The defense returned nine starters from a team that ranked 13th in defensive success rate last season, including 7th in passing success rate allowed. Naturally, the Utes shut down Southern Utah in their opener, but they also held Baylor to a 10th-percentile offensive success rate, 9th-percentile EPA per play, and just 3.66 yards per play (4th percentile).
Utah State Aggies Betting Preview: Primary Weakness is Defense
Utah State won in week one against Robert Morris before falling to USC last weekend. The offense looked good once Bryson Barnes entered the game at quarterback against Robert Morris, but that was not the case against USC.
Against the Trojans, Utah State averaged just 4.2 yards per play and -0.25 EPA per play, both ranking in the 10th percentile. They did have a success rate ranking in the 64th percentile, but they could not generate any explosive plays. Barnes averaged -0.46 EPA per play as he had just 92 yards on 27 pass attempts with an interception and three sacks taken.
Utah State’s defense was their primary weakness last season, and it appears that is still the case. The Aggies allowed a 94th-percentile success rate and 91st-percentile EPA per play to USC in this 48-0 loss. Robert Morris was able to post a 67th percentile success rate in Week 1 as well.
There was hope that this defense would improve with a new staff and seven returning starters, but I do not have any confidence in this unit at this point, especially against a power conference opponent like Utah.
<span >How to Make College Football Picks For My Utah vs Utah State Prediction</span>
The main uncertainty in this game is Rising's health. If Rising plays, I don’t think Utah State will stand a chance at slowing down the Utes. However, Wilson has not yet shown himself capable as a quarterback in his freshman year, and while this Utah State defense is bad, I’m not fully confident in backing him.
The unit I trust most in this game is the Utah defense. This unit is dominant, and Utah State will not pose an issue for them in the trenches. Barnes may be seeking revenge against his former team if he starts again, but I believe the Utes' defense will be able to stifle the Aggies’ offense.
With the line at 20 points, I do see value in Utah at this point of the week. There is some risk of Rising not playing or Utah milking a lead like they did against Baylor. But the Utes are the much better team in this matchup, and I think they will win big on the road here.
Utah vs Utah State Pick: Utah -18 (-110)
How to Watch Utah vs Utah State Live: Streaming, Channel, Time
| Location: | Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, Logan, Utah |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 14 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS Sports Network |
Utah State vs Utah Betting Trends
Utah Betting Trends
- Utah is 2-0 in its last 5 games
- Utah is 1-1 in its last 5 games against the spread
- The total has gone OVER in 0 of Utah's last 2 games
- The total has gone OVER in 0 of Utah's 2 last games at home
Utah State Betting Trends
- Utah State is 1-1 in its last 5 games
- Utah State is 0-2 in its last 5 games against the spread
- Utah State is 0-1 in its road games against the spread
- The total has gone OVER in 0 of Utah State's last 2 games
- The total has gone OVER in 0 of Utah State's 1 last games at home
Utah State vs Utah Weather
