A couple of teams that prefer to feature their running games, Buffaloes of Colorado (+7) are gearing up to greet their in-conference counterpart No. 21 Utah Utes (-7) in Folsom Field. This key daytime game is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. ET and Pac-12 Networks will broadcast the action.
Utah Utes at Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview
In this Saturday Pac-12 matchup, Utah is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to put up $300 to win $100 back on the Utes (-300). The Buffaloes are getting +220 moneyline odds. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 48.5 points, and multiple solid live betting opportunities might present themselves during the game.
The Utes have gained 1.2 units so far and are 6-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 5-4. The Buffaloes have gained 0.3 units this season. The team is 5-5 ATS and owns an O/U record of 2-7.
The Utes are 7-3 straight up (SU), including 5-3 SU against conference opponents. The Buffaloes are 5-5 SU overall and are also 2-5 SU in conference play.
The Utes just got a 32-25 win over Oregon last week. Jason Shelley completed 18-of-31 passes for 262 yards. Armand Shyne (174 rushing yards on 26 attempts) and the signal-caller Shelley (22 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack in the win. Cole Fotheringham (five receptions, 76 yards) and Britain Covey (four catches, 48 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Colorado most-recently fell in a one-sided affair, 31-7 to Washington State. The team’s defense allowed the Cougars to pass for 346 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 131 yards and two scores. James Williams had a solid showing, posting 60 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts, along with 43 yards on five catches for Washington State. For Colorado, Steven Montez completed 20-of-35 passes for 199 yards. Travon McMillian (73 yards on nine rush attempts, one TD) handled the ground attack in the defeat as Laviska Shenault Jr. (10 receptions, 102 yards) and Juwann Winfree (four catches, 59 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Utah has run the ball on 59.7 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 62.1 percent across possessions in conference play. Colorado has a rush percentage of 51.4 percent, and has kept it on the ground 49.4 percent of the time when playing Pac-12 opponents. The Utes have rushed for 205 yards per game (including 214 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 19 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Buffaloes are putting up 153 rush yards per game (132 in conference) and have 19 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Utes ought to own the edge when it comes to RB efficiency. Their backfield has produced 4.9 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.1 to opponents. The Buffaloes have registered 4.1 yards per carry and given up 3.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Utes offensive scheme has averaged 222 yards through the air overall (202 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing scores so far. The Buffaloes have put up 266 pass yards per contest (256.3 against Pac-12 competition) and have 17 total pass TDs.
Utah seems to have an advantage in both areas of the defense. The team has let opponents run for an average of 102 yards and throw for 222 yards per game. The Colorado defense has given up 247.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 148.3 yards per game on the ground. The Utes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.08 to opposing QBs, while the Buffaloes have given up a 6.13 ANY/A.
Offensively, Shelley is up to 302 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 20-of-34 attempts with zero scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He has an 8.14 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.98 over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, Steven Montez has managed to complete 202-of-302 passes for 2,252 yards, 14 TDs and four INTs. Montez’s ANY/A stands at 6.94 for the season and 5.87 over his past two outings.
When these two schools faced each other last year, Utah won by three touchdowns 34-13.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Utah Utes at Colorado Buffaloes
SU Winner – Utah, ATS Winner – Utah, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
Colorado has lost four fumbles this season while Utah has lost nine.
Each team defense has produced 25 sacks this year.
As a team, Utah has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.2 over its last two.
Colorado has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 2.4 over its last two.
Over its last three matchups, Colorado is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Utah’s previous game was set at 50.5. The over cashed in the team’s 32-25 victory over Oregon.
In its last three matchups, Utah is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Colorado’s last match going into it was 58.5. The under cashed in the 31-7 defeat to Washington State.
Utah has won six of its last seven games SU, with an 18-point defeat to Arizona State on November 3rd representing the only loss over that span.
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