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The Utah Utes (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) play the Colorado Buffaloes (7-2, 5-1) Saturday. Kickoff from Folsom Field is scheduled for noon ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Utah vs. Colorado odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Buffaloes, who are ranked No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, have won 6 of their last 7 games, including a 41-27 victory over Texas Tech Nov. 9. They’re looking to solidify a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and, in turn, the College Football Playoff. WR/CB Travis Hunter enters action as the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy (-105 at BetMGM Sportsbook).
Despite its 5-game losing streak — and recent loss of QB Cameron Rising (leg) for the season — Utah may present an underrated test for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. The Utes rank 11th in the FBS in points per game allowed (17.1) and nearly upset Big 12-leading BYU Nov. 9 in a controversially-reffed 22-21 loss.
Unfortunately, continued woes under center further complicate Utah’s chances of preventing another defeat.
– US LBM Coaches Poll: Conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Utah at Colorado odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Friday at 2:57 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Utah +340 (bet $100 to win $340) | Colorado -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah +11.5 (-110) | Colorado -11.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 45.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Utah at Colorado picks and predictions
Prediction
Colorado 27, Utah 13
Moneyline
Back to those QB issues: The replacement for Rising, Brandon Rose (foot), will miss the rest of the season, and Utah goes back to third-string freshman Isaac Wilson.
This hindrance makes a merely moderate plus-money Utah ML less appealing, and Colorado is too heavily favored for bettors to care anyway.
PASS.
Against the spread
Colorado’s 7-2 record ATS matches its moneyline tally. In the 2 seasons under the Sanders pair’s regime, CU is 7-3 ATS at home.
A road assignment for a freshman QB hammers home the likelihood that Colorado dominates. Lay the wood.
BET COLORADO -11.5 (-110).
Utah’s injury-marred offense will fail to keep pace with the Sanders circus.
Could Colorado carry the O/U on its own? Possibly: The Buffs have scored at least 28 points in every win this season while notching a 5-3-1 record on the total.
Utah’s 2-7 mark on the season and latest forced QB change should perpetuate the Utes’ struggles to pile up points. Plus, Utah’s defense should put up another heroic effort to contain its second straight Big 12 powerhouse, which tempers my enthusiasm around Sanders’ upside.
BET UNDER 45.5 (-110).
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