On New Year’s Eve, the (11-2) Utah Utes will take on the (7-5) Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. That game can be seen on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Utah-Texas odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
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Utah vs. Texas: Three things you need to know
1. Utah had one of the best defenses in the country during the regular season, allowing just over 13 points per game.
2. Texas has won only one of their last six games against a Pac-12 opponent.
3. Utah has won five-straight games against Big-12 opponents
Utah vs. Texas: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Utah 35, Texas 21
Moneyline (ML)
Despite being 11-2 on the season, UTAH is only a -286 favorite to win this game over Texas. There certainly will be a “home” feel for the Longhorns, but the Utes are just a better team. Considering how well Utah has played this season, don’t be afraid to grab the Utah moneyline here.
Against the Spread (ATS)
UTAH (-7.5) opens this contest as a touchdown favorite over Texas, and that line doesn’t seem quite high enough. Utah has been incredible against the spread this season, covering in nine of their 14 games. They have even covered in eight of their last nine games as their defense only continues to improve. Given Texas’ weaknesses on defense, expect Utah to have no problem moving the ball. I like Utah to cover the spread reasonably easily in this contest.
Over/Under (O/U)
The over/under for the Alamo Bowl is set at 54.5, which seems just about right given how well Utah’s defense has played this season. However, don’t be surprised if there is some late-game scoring that pushes the total OVER in San Antonio.
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