The Colorado Buffaloes enter their rivalry game with the Utah Utes as heavy favorites while looking for their first win in the series since 2016. Utah is having a down season compared to the team we saw in the Pac-12, but that doesn’t mean CU should take the Utes lightly on Saturday (10 a.m. MT, Fox).
The Utes (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) come into the game limiting teams to only 20.7 points per game during conference play, but the Buffs (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) are right there with the Utes in allowing 23.3 per game — good for fourth in the Big 12.
The discrepancy comes when you look at each team’s offensive output. Colorado is leading the Big 12 in conference points per game (37.2) while Utah has averaged only 15.5 points in conference games, largely due to injury woes.
I don’t see Utah’s offense breaking out against a defense playing as well as Colorado’s, especially with the Utes having to start a different quarterback yet again. Utah’s defense will make things difficult and the Buffs may have to rely on a defensive score, but I predict they’ll get their eighth win of the season.
Final score prediction: Colorado 24, Utah 10
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