The BYU Cougars (+14) aren’t traveling far to face the No. 18 Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The opening kickoff for this important matchup is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET and FS1 will televise the action.
BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes Betting Preview
In this Saturday matchup, Utah has been tabbed as the big favorite and is currently giving up 14 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to put up $600 to win $100 back on the Utes (-600). The Cougars are getting +425 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 44 points, and should one team catches a lucky break early, it would probably generate a decent betting scenario in-game.
The Cougars are 7-4 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.0 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 2-9. The Utes have gained 2.2 units this season. The team is 7-4 ATS and has an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Cougars are 6-5 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Utes are 8-3 SU.
When these two programs faced each other a year ago, Utah won by a pair of field goals 19-13.
Each team enters the matchup on a two-game undefeated streak. The Cougars are coming off a resounding 45-10 victory over New Mexico State last week. The Cougars secondary allowed the Aggies to air it out for 264 yards. On the offensive side, Zach Wilson completed just 12-of-26 passes for 172 yards. Lopini Katoa (155 yards on 19 rush attempts, four TDs) and Riley Burt (61 yards on 10 carries) led the running attack while Dallin Holker (four receptions, 76 yards) and Matt Bushman (three catches, 57 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Utah is coming off of a 30-7 win over Colorado. Jason Shelley completed 11-of-23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Armand Shyne (55 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) handled the running attack as Jaylen Dixon (four receptions, 125 yards, one TD) and Cole Fotheringham (two catches, 37 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
BYU has run the ball on 55.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Utah has an overall rush percentage of 60.4 percent. The Cougars have produced 155 rush yards/game and have 22 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Utes are putting up 202 rush yards per game and have 20 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Utes may own the edge when it comes to RB effectiveness. Their backfield has generated 4.7 yards per carry while their defense has allowed 2.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Cougars have registered 4.2 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.6 to opponents.
The Cougars offense has averaged 199 yards through the air overall and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Utes have put up 222 pass yards per contest and have 16 total pass scores.
BYU has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 127 yards and throw for 201 yards per game. The Utah D has given up 216.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 95.5 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Cougars have given up an ANY/A of 5.03 to opposing QBs, while the Utes are allowing an ANY/A of 4.68.
Offensively, Wilson is up to 890 passing yards this year, and has completed 68-of-113 attempts with four passing scores and two interceptions. Wilson’s got a 5.95 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.26 over the last two outings.
The Cougars have tried to control the clock by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Dallin Holker (166 yards, one TD) has gotten looks recently, but backfield mates Lopini Katoa (423 rush yards, eight rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Matt Hadley (250 rush yards, three rush TDs) have delivered in the BYU offensive scheme.
In the host locker room, Jason Shelley has connected on 17-of-37 passes for 320 yards, two TDs and one INT. Shelley’s ANY/A stands at 7.63 for the year and 9.07 over his last two outings.
The Utes will also try to control the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Armand Shyne (five receiving yards), Jaylen Dixon (375 receiving yards and one receiving TD) and Britain Covey (120 rush yards, 574 receiving yards, one TD) have seen a lot of action recently.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: BYU Cougars at Utah Utes
SU Winner – Utah, ATS Winner – Utah, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The O/U for BYU’s previous game going into it was 60.5. The under cashed in the team’s 45-10 victory over New Mexico State.
BYU has averaged 4.9 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 5.9 over its last two.
Utah has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 4.3 over its last two.
Both teams have lost nine fumbles this season.
Over its last three contests, BYU is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Utah’s last game going into it was 48. The under cashed in that 30-7 win over Colorado.
In its last three contests, Utah is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Utah has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a -18-point defeat to Arizona State on November 3rd representing the lone loss over that span.
The Cougars offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Utes have accounted for 11 such plays.
The BYU defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Utah has given up seven such plays.
The BYU offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Utah has created 22 such runs.
Both defenses have allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Cougars have given up 31 running plays of 10+ yards while the Utes have given up 35 such plays.
The Utah defense has recorded 31 sacks on the year while BYU has just 23.
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