The Oregon Ducks (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12 North) and Utah Utes (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12 South) will battle Friday to determine who will be the conference champion. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
We analyze the Oregon-Utah odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Oregon vs. Utah: Three things you need to know
1. The only conference loss by either team is an opponent the other defeated handily. Utah lost to USC 30-23, while Oregon beat the Trojans 56-24 several weeks later. The Ducks lost 31-28 to Arizona State Nov. 23, while the Utes beat the Sun Devils 21-3 in mid-October.
2. Utah and Oregon have the two best defenses in the Pac-12. Utah allows only 11.3 points per game; Oregon yields 15.3 points per game.
3. Utah leads the conference with 214.6 rushing yards per game, while Oregon is second with 178.6 rushing yards per game. The Utes also lead the league in rushing yards allowed, holding opponents to 56.3 YPG. That’s nearly half of what the Ducks surrender (106.1 YPG), which ranks second in the Pac-12.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!
Oregon vs. Utah: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 1:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Utah 24, Oregon 20
Moneyline (ML)
This is a rare case in which betting the underdog makes sense even when it’s no guarantee it will win. The Utes are a heavy favorite at -250, while the DUCKS’ +200 will double your investment if they win outright. This game will be close enough that taking Oregon on the moneyline is worth the risk.
New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on Oregon would profit $2 if the Ducks prevail. A $10 winning wager on the Ducks returns a $20 profit.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Utah is heavily favored at -6.5 (-110). Both teams are led by senior quarterbacks with the Ducks ranking second in the Pac-12 in points per game (35.8), just ahead of the Utes (35.6 PPG).
Utah is 9-3 against the spread, while Oregon is 6-6.
That would suggest Utah is the better bet, but this will be tightly contested and come down to the wire. Take the underdog DUCKS +6.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
The total is set at 46.5 points. With two great defenses that stop the run and cause turnovers, don’t expect a lot of points. Utah is 3-8-1 O/U on the season, while Oregon is 5-7.
What does that mean? This is easy. Take the UNDER (-121).
Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]