The No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) and No. 8 Utah Utes (10-3) meet in the Rose Bowl on Monday in Pasadena, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Penn State vs. Utah odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Big Ten representatives will have to make do without the services of leading receiver WR Parker Washington (46 receptions, 611 yards, 2 TDs). He missed the final 2 games due to injury, and he won’t play in Pasadena. On the defensive side of the ball, CB Joey Porter Jr. has also opted out. He made 23 total stops with 6 passes defensed and a fumble recovery in 10 games.
For Utah, leading receiver TE Dalton Kincaid opted out because of an undisclosed injury. That leaves WR DeVaughn Vele (50-595-5) as the next best receiver available. RB Tavion Thomas also has opted out after declaring for the NFL Draft. Thomas led the team with 687 rushing yards and 7 TDs.
Utah’s offense has scored 110 total points in the last 2 games, including a 47-24 win over USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game. However, the offense should be a little less effective without its leading rusher and receiver.
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Penn State vs. Utah odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Penn State +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Utah -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Penn State +1.5 (-111) | Utah -1.5 (-109)
- Over/Under (O/U): 53 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Penn State vs. Utah picks and predictions
Prediction
Utah 29, Penn State 25
Moneyline
UTAH (-120) is a strong play despite the absence of Kinkaid and Thomas. The Utes have plenty of depth, and dual-threat QB Cam Rising is just as dangerous with his feet as he is with his arm. Rising has rushed for 410 yards and 5 TDs.
Meanwhile, RBs Micah Bernard (95-474-4) and Ja’Quinden Jackson (65-450-8) are more than capable of picking up the slack left by Thomas
The pass game will likely suffer a bit without Kincaid, as the depth isn’t as great in that area, but Utah will also not have to face the likes of Porter Jr., which is helpful.
Against the spread
UTAH -1.5 (-109) is a lot cheaper if you want to lay the small amount of points. As long as this doesn’t rise above a flat 3, it’s worth the play.
Utah is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 games against the Big Ten, including last season’s wild Rose Bowl loss against Ohio State. The Utes are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games overall, too.
Penn State +1.5 (-111) does come in on a 6-game cover streak, but it is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 games played in the month of January.
Over/Under
OVER 53 (-110) is the play, but only go as high as a half-unit.
There is a lot of concern with Penn State down a major skill position player, and Utah down its leading rusher and receiver. As mentioned, the Utes have plenty of depth, but we’ll still see a few less points than if those stars were on the field.
The Over is 5-2 in the last 7 games for Penn State; 5-1 in their last 6 neutral-site games; 4-1 in their last 5 bowl games, and 12-5 in the last 17 non-conference tilts, too.
For Utah, the Over is 4-1 in the last 5 games outside of the conference, while going 6-2 in the last 8 against teams with a winning overall mark.
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