The California Golden Bears (+19) are making a trip east to face their Pac-12 foe No. 12 Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. FS1 will televise the action and kickoff will take place at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Utah Utes vs. California Golden Bears
California is getting picked to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 19 points in this Pac-12 game. If they are wanting to take the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to put down $1,600 in order to win $100 back on the Utes (-1600). The Golden Bears are getting +850 moneyline odds. There should be some good live betting scenarios in this game, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 39 points.
The early action has slanted toward the Utes, as the opening line was -18. The game’s O/U hasn’t changed after it was set initially at 39.
The Golden Bears have gained 0.7 units so far in 2019 and are 3-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 1-6.
The Utes are up 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and also have an O/U record of 1-6.
The Golden Bears are 4-3 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against conference opponents. The Utes are 6-1 SU overall and 3-1 SU in conference play.
California enters this matchup on a three-game winning streak while Utah has dropped each of its last three. The Golden Bears are looking to bounce back after a 21-17 defeat to Oregon State last week. The passing attack could’ve been sharper as the Golden Bears completed 14-of-33 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Devon Modster went 12-for-27 for 151 yards and one touchdown while Spencer Brasch completed two-of-six for 24 yards and one interception. Modster (76 rushing yards on 19 attempts) also led the ground attack and was complemented by Christopher Brown Jr. (49 yards on 15 carries, one TD). Nikko Remigio (four receptions, 51 yards) and Jordan Duncan (three catches, 49 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Utah is coming off of a 21-3 win over Arizona State. Tyler Huntley completed 12-of-19 passes for 171 yards and one interception. Zack Moss had an outstanding statline in the win. Along with 99 rushing yards on 25 attempts (and two TDs), Moss also reeled in three receptions for 78 yards.
California has run the ball on 58.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Utah has a rush percentage of 64.5 percent. The Golden Bears have produced 130.3 rush yards/game (including 117.5 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have six touchdowns on the ground this year. The Utes are putting up 217.7 rush yards per game (211.5 in conference) and have 18 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then the Utes may hold an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has logged 5.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.6 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Golden Bears have registered 3.3 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents.
The Golden Bears offensive scheme has logged 193.7 yards/contest in the air overall (154 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Utes have put up 231.7 pass yards per contest (246 in the Pac-12) and have nine total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, California has allowed 150.6 rush yards and 209 pass yards per game. The Utah defense has allowed 191 yards per game to opposing passers and 61.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Utes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.07 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Bears have given up a 4.94 ANY/A.
Huntley likely has the edge over Modster in this one. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 10.03 for the year and 11.03 across his last two games while Modster’s ANY/A is 2.56 (and 3.18 over the last two games).
These two Pac-12 foes did not get a chance to play one another last season.
California Golden Bears at Utah Utes Free Prediction
SU Winner: Utah, ATS Winner: California, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- As a team, California has rushed for 2.5 yards per attempt across its past three outings and 2.4 over its last two.
- Utah has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.8 over its past two.
- Utah has lost six fumbles this season while California has lost three.
- The Golden Bears offense has tallied three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Utes have accounted for six such plays.
- Both teams have allowed three pass plays of 40+ yards and six pass plays of 30+ yards.
- The California offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Utah has created 10 such runs.
- The Golden Bears defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Utes have given up two such runs.
- The California defense has sacked opposing QBs 19 times this season. Utah has registered just 13 sacks.
