Utah vs #17 Colorado: NCAA Football Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

The Utah Utes and Colorado Buffaloes have seen each other plenty the past few seasons in the PAC-12, but this weekend they face off fir the first time as members of the Big 12. And let me tell you, we have two teams trending in opposite directions.

Let's start with the visitors, the Utah Utes. Despite all of their QB question marks, Utah started off 4-0 and looked like they might be a College Football Playoff caliber team. However things quickly took a turn for the worst. Utah is just 1-5 in conference play, losing five consecutive games leading up to this battle against the Buffaloes. They will more than likely turn back to Isaac Wilson to lead the team, after Brandon Rose suffered a season ending injury despite performing well against BYU. Is there any fight left for Utah?

Colorado is a team that now controls their own destiny. If they win their last three games, they'll have a date with BYU in the Big 12 Championship, with a shot at the CFP on the line. Things aren't going to come easy, as they host Utah, take on the Jayhawks at Arrowhead, and then host the Oklahoma State Cowboys, three teams that were all supposed to be in the top half of the conference. Can the Buffaloes finish strong, starting with a win against the Utes this weekend?

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Utah Utes vs #17 Colorado Buffaloes: Can Utah Spoil Buffs Big 12 Hopes?

Matchup Information – Utah vs Colorado

• Venue & Location: Folsom Field (Boulder, CO)
• Date: Saturday, November 16th, 2024
• Kick Off: 12:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: FOX

Betting Odds

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Spread

• Utah +11.5 (-110)
• Colorado -11.5 (-110)

Money Line

• Utah +360
• Colorado -450

Total

• Over 46.5 (-110)
• Under 46.5 (-110)

Colorado Controls Their Own Big 12 Destiny

In their first year in the Big 12, Colorado has a chance to win the conference. All they need to do is beat 3 bottom feeders and take down an undefeated BYU team. If they do that, they have a shot at the National Championship. But is this team flying too close to the sun? Could this week be a wake up call?

When this lookahead number came out in the summer, Utah was favored by 7.5. Now they find themselves as double digits dogs (rightfully so) on the road. Utah has lost 5 straight games, while Colorado has won 3 straight and 6 of their L7 this season. But this will be a very tough defense that Colorado faces.

The Utah Utes rank 13th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing less than 20 points per game to opponents. Here's how the rest of Colorado's opponents rank.

• Nebraska: 27th
• Cincinnati: 38th
• Kansas State: 49th
• UCF: 83rd
• Baylor: 89th
• Texas Tech: 107th
• Arizona: 110th

The Buffaloes have faced a defense outside of the Top 100 in 2 of their L3 weeks, and have not seen a Top 25 defense yet. They host one this Saturday, and I trust Utah to be able to slow down this high flying offense. I do think the Buffaloes find a way to win, while the Utes keep it close, and I'll target a player prop to put my coin on.

Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes Best Bets

Colorado vs Utah Prediction: Colorado Wins, Utah Covers, Under 46.5

Best Bets: Micah Bernard Over 80.5 Rushing Yards (-114) BetOnline

Micah Bernard has been running all over opponents this season, however he's been a bit quieter the past few weeks. That should change this weekend against a very bad, Colorado rushing defense. Bernard already averages 95.5 yards per game on just 16.3 carries. He runs for nearly 6 yards per attempt, and has 4 100 yard games this year. Bernard has only gone over in 5/9 games, and hasn't done so in the past few weeks… *cough cough*… He's due.

He still had 78 rushing yards last week, falling just 3 yards short, but against the Buffaloes he should be fine.

Colorado ranks 68th in rushing yards allowed, giving up 150 per game with that number inflating to 174 at home. In terms of yards per carry, that number also inflates to 4.5 at home, letting their visiting opponents really run free. Now, here's how they've done against other stud RBs around the league.

• Tahj Brooks (TT): 31-137-1
• DJ Giddens (KSU): 25-182
• RJ Harvey (UCF): 16-77
• Dante Dowdell (NEB): 17-74-2

The Utes will take some pressure off of whomever is playing QB for them, and let Bernard pound the ground against a mediocre Buffaloes rushing defense.

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