The Colorado Buffaloes take on the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kickoff is set for 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Utah is favored by 13.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -550. The total is set at 49.5 points.
Here’s my Colorado vs. Utah prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 25.
Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes Prediction, Picks
- Colorado vs. Utah Pick: Colorado +14 or Better
My Utah vs. Colorado best bet is on the Buffaloes to cover. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Colorado vs Utah Odds, Lines, Spread
| Colorado Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14 -110 | 49 -110o / -110u | +460 |
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14 -110 | 49 -110o / -110u | -650 |
- Colorado vs Utah Spread: Utah -14, Colorado +14
- Colorado vs Utah Over/Under: 49
- Colorado vs Utah Moneyline: Colorado ML +460, Utah ML -650
Colorado vs Utah NCAAF Week 9 Preview
Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado enters this matchup as a 14-point underdog, but the situational spot favors them.
While the Buffs’ offense has endured some inconsistent stretches, its underlying efficiency profile shows balance and improvement over the season.
Colorado ranks 61st nationally in EPA per Pass, which places them solidly above the national average in passing efficiency despite protection issues earlier in the year. The offense has quietly evolved to rely less on pure explosiveness and more on rhythm-based passing concepts, spreading defenses horizontally and using short throws as an extension of the run game.
That is the name of the game for quarterback Kaidon Salter, who thrives using his legs and quick passes.
On the ground, Colorado ranks 51st nationally in EPA per rush, indicating that while they’re not a power-run team, they can generate positive plays when they stay on schedule.
Their 47.4% available-yards rate and 47.1% third- and fourth-down Success Rate demonstrate an offense that sustains drives, even against physical defensive fronts.
When the Buffs are efficient on early downs, their tempo becomes a real asset — forcing defenses like Utah’s to defend sideline-to-sideline.
The key for Colorado will be early-down stability. Against a Utah defense that ranks sixth nationally in EPA per pass allowed and 11th in early-down EPA allowed, every positive gain matters.
The Buffs can’t afford negative plays that put them behind the sticks. Fortunately, their offensive line has improved in pass protection, allowing them to utilize quick-hitting reads and RPO concepts to neutralize Utah’s pressure packages.
Defensively, Colorado’s metrics are shaky, but not hopeless. The Buffs rank 103rd nationally in EPA per Pass allowed and 79th in EPA per Rush allowed.
However, they also rank 11th nationally in opponent starting field position, and their special teams have drastically improved since last season. They consistently force opponents to drive the full length of the field.
That field-position control, paired with a defensive philosophy that bends but doesn’t completely break, has kept several games closer than box scores suggest.
The Buffs will need to tackle well and limit yards after contact — Utah thrives on generating efficiency through consistency, not explosion. If Colorado can keep Utah to field goals instead of touchdowns, the Buffs’ offensive profile gives them a legitimate chance to cover.
Utah Utes
Monitoring the injury report will be massive for the Utes, as quarterback Devon Dampier is set to play after suffering a hamstring injury.
Either way, Utah’s identity hasn’t changed much in recent years: tough, physical, deliberate. But while that brand still wins games, the Utes haven’t reached their ceiling. They rank 29th nationally in EPA per Pass and 27th in EPA per Rush — they're efficient, but they emphasize ball control over explosiveness.
They rank seventh in available yards percentage at 63%, confirming their ability to turn possessions into red-zone opportunities.
What really stands out is Utah’s third-down dominance. The Utes convert 58% of their third downs (tied for third nationally) while averaging just 5.29 yards to go (second).
That’s the product of elite early-down play calling, which keeps them in rhythm and allows their offensive line to dictate tempo.
However, that same rhythm also slows the overall game. Utah is not a quick-strike offense. It’s one of the most deliberate units in the country, running the ball frequently on early downs and taking shots selectively off play action.
Against Colorado’s defense, Utah should find success in the trenches, but there’s reason to believe that success may not translate into an easy cover.
The Buffs’ defensive inefficiency is partially offset by their ability to make opponents drive long fields. Utah’s average starting field position begins on their own 26-yard line, meaning it has to drive the whole field to score their points. Utah’s methodical pace also limits the number of possessions per game.
Defensively, Utah is elite by almost any metric.
The Utes’ pass defense ranks sixth nationally, and their early-down defense consistently forces opponents into long third downs. But, they have struggled on late downs, which could pose trouble against a Buffs offense that has been better lately.
Utah's most significant questions are motivation and fatigue. It’s coming off a stretch of physical conference games and now faces a Colorado team with nothing to lose.
Utah’s defense can control this game, but with the offensive uncertainty and situational fatigue, I have a hard time believing the Utes can cover.
Colorado vs Utah NCAAF Pick to Bet
Saturday is the classic value-on-the-number spot where the market perception of Utah’s dominance doesn’t fully align with the likely game flow.
Colorado's offense has looked better lately, which cannot be understated. It's also a decent spot to back the Buffs, considering they are off a bye and Utah just played a hard-fought rivalry game at BYU.
The Buffs are catching Utah at a good time, especially in the injury report.
The Utes are certainly the more physical team, but they're in a terrible spot.
Pick: Colorado +14 or Better
Colorado vs Utah Trends to Know
