Two teams that prefer to keep the ball on the ground, Utes (-4) are gearing up to welcome their Pac-12 rival Oregon Ducks to Utah. The game is scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to Pac-12 Networks.
Betting Preview: Oregon Ducks at Utah Utes
Oregon is the road underdog in this Pac-12 game and is currently getting 4 points. The Ducks are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Utes are -175. This Pac-12 tilt should provide several decent live betting scenarios, and oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 56.5 points.
With the line opening at -3 and the total placed initially at 57, the betting odds have shifted a bit.
The Ducks have lost 1.9 units so far and are 4-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-5.
The Utes have gained 0.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-4 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Ducks are 6-3 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against conference opponents. The Utes are 6-3 SU overall and 4-3 SU in conference play.
The Ducks are coming off a resounding 42-21 win over UCLA last week. Justin Herbert completed only 18-of-32 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. CJ Verdell (90 yards on 25 rushes, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack in the win while Dillon Mitchell (eight receptions, 156 yards, two TDs) and Verdell (four catches, 38 yards) manned the receiving duties.
Utah just dropped a 38-20 game to Arizona State. The defense let the Sun Devils kill the clock by rushing for 251 yards on 50 attempts, including two rush TDs. Eno Benjamin torched the defense, recording 175 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts for Arizona State. As a group, the Utes collectively completed 11-of-26 passes for 147 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Tyler Huntley went seven-for-15 for 88 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while Jason Shelley was four-of-11 for 59 yards and one interception. Zack Moss (128 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) led the ground game in the defeat as Samson Nacua (four receptions, 68 yards, one TD) and Britain Covey (two catches, 24 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Oregon has run the ball on 54.8 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 51.9 percent across possessions in conference play. Utah has a rush percentage of 59.6 percent, and has run the ball 62.4 percent of the time when playing Pac-12 opponents. The Ducks have run for 177.7 yards/game (including 159.5 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 20 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Utes are averaging 202.0 rush yards per game (211.7 in conference) and have 17 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it seems like the Utes may have the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has generated 4.8 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Ducks have rushed for 4.4 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents.
The Ducks offense has tallied 265.3 yards per contest in the air overall (253.5 per game against conference opposition) and has 22 passing scores so far. The Utes have produced 217.6 pass yards per outing (193 against Pac-12 foes) and have 14 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Oregon has let opponents run for an average of 143.2 yards and pass for 249.2 yards per game. The Utah defense has allowed 214.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 100.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Utes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.69 to opposing QBs, while the Ducks have given up a 5.87 ANY/A.
Offensively, Herbert is up to 2,147 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 149-of-244 attempts with 20 scores through the air and only five interceptions. Herbert’s got an 8.84 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.88 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Oregon in this one. Dillon Mitchell, CJ Verdell and Jacob Breeland have collectively accounted for 474 total yards and four touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Tyler Huntley has managed to complete 137-of-213 passes for 1,650 yards, 12 TDs and five INTs for Utah. His ANY/A sits at 6.56 for the season and 2.46 over his last two outings.
Zack Moss, Britain Covey and Samson Nacua have combined to account for 531 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns the last two outings.
When these two programs faced each other a year ago, Oregon won by three touchdowns 41-20.
Oregon Ducks at Utah Utes Betting Pick
SU Winner: Oregon, ATS Winner: Oregon, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Oregon’s last game was set at 59. The over cashed in the team’s 42-21 victory over UCLA.
- Oregon, as a team, has produced 3.8 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.4 over its last two.
- Utah has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 6.1 over its past two.
- The Utah offense has lost nine fumbles this season while Oregon has lost seven.
- Over its last three matchups, Oregon is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Utah’s last match going into it was 55. The over cashed in the 38-20 loss to Arizona State.
- In its last three contests, Utah is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Both teams have produced eight pass plays of 40+ yards. The Ducks have have made 16 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Utes have created 11 such plays.
- The Oregon defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Utah has given up six such plays.
- The Oregon offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Utah has created 17 such runs.
- The Ducks defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Utes have given up six such runs.
- The Utah D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times this season. Oregon has recorded 19 sacks.
