BYU vs. Utah Total Prediction
Will the scoring total be low when physical rivals meet up this Saturday night, as No. 17 Utah hosts BYU at 10PM ET.
Game Snapshot & Odds
183 BYU at 184 Utah
Saturday, November 24, 2018
10PM ET – Rice-Eccles Stadium
TV: FS1
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Utah is favored at home, as the Utes are getting odds of -11.5 points against BYU. The over/under total for the contest is currently listed at 44 points. The public betting currently has 61 percent going on BYU on the road.
BYU on a win streak
The BYU Cougars are coming off a 45-10 win over New Mexico State last week for a second consecutive victory. BYU is 6-5 overall, 7-4 against the spread and 9-2 with the under. BYU has hit the under in four straight games.
The Cougars put a pretty good defense on the field, as they allowing just 20.5 points and 327.6 yards per game. Both of those stats ranks in the top 25 in the country. When it comes to offense, BYU is averaging only 25.3 points and 354.6 yards per game. Zach Wilson has emerged as the starting QB after splitting time with Tanner Mangum throughout the year. Wilson has 1,057 passing yards with six touchdowns. Lopini Katoa is the leading rusher with 423 yards and eight touchdowns while Squally Canada has 412 yards and five scores. Canada is questionable for this game with an undisclosed injury.
Utah hammers Colorado
The Utah Utes are coming off a 30-7 win at Colorado last weekend for a second straight win and sixth win in seven games. The Utes are now 8-3 overall, 7-4 against the spread and 6-5 with the over. Utah has hit the over in two straight home games.
The Utes have been led this year by their defense. They rank 16th nationally in scoring defense (18.5 ppg), 14th in total yards (313.5 ypg) and fifth in rushing defense (96.9 ypc). Offensively, Utah is putting up 30.5 points and 424.7 yards per contest. The team lost quarterback Tyler Huntley a few weeks ago to a collarbone injury. Jason Shelley has replaced him and has thrown for 582 yards and two scores. Zack Moss is the leading rusher with 1,092 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was lost for the year with a knee injury.
College Football Betting Trends
BYU
BYU has hit the under in seven straight games against Pac-12 opponents and 17 of its last 22 road games.
Utah
USC has hit the over in five of its last seven games in November and in four straight against a team with a winning record.
Prediction:
These two have hit the under in two straight meetings and three of their last four. I expect another to hit this weekend. Utah is banged up on offense with its two top players injured. That will keep it from being too dynamic against a good BYU defense. The Cougars don’t have much of an offense either and don’t have any cohesion and flow at quarterback. That won’t bode well against a vey good and physical Utah defense.
College Football Prediction: BYU/Utah Under 44