Two teams that like to run the football, Wildcats of Arizona (-22) are set to welcome their Pac-12 rival No. 7 Utah Utes to Arizona Stadium. FS1 is scheduled to have the TV rights and the game gets underway at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah Utes
Utah is significantly favored here and is currently giving up 22 points to Arizona. If the Wildcats get out in front early it will generate a reasonable in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 58.5 points.
The total has yet to change after it was initially posted at 58.5. Having said that, the opening line was 21 and has recently moved up to 22.
The profitable Utes have gained 3.3 units so far in 2019 and are 7-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 2-7-1.
The Wildcats have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 5.6 units. The team is 2-8 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-4.
The Utes have gone 9-1 straight up (SU), including 6-1 SU against conference opponents. The Wildcats are 4-6 SU overall and are also 2-5 SU in conference play.
Arizona comes into this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Utah has lost each of its last zero. The Utes want to keep things rolling after a 49-3 win over UCLA last week where Tyler Huntley completed 14 passes on 18 attempts for 335 yards and two touchdowns. Zack Moss (127 yards on 17 rush attempts, two TDs) provided the running attack while Brant Kuithe (five receptions, 132 yards, one TD) and Moss (four catches, 73 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, Oregon took care of this Arizona team by a score of 34-6. The Wildcats defense let the Ducks pass for 333 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 138 yards. Travis Dye put up a solid showing for Oregon, accounting for 71 rushing yards on 14 attempts, along with 38 yards on two catches. As a group, the Wildcats collectively completed 17-of-30 passes for 132 yards. Khalil Tate went seven-for-16 for 50 yards while Grant Gunnell was 10-of-14 for 82 yards. J.J. Taylor (74 rushing yards on 17 attempts) mounted the running attack as Taylor (six receptions, 55 yards) and Brian Casteel (four catches, 17 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Utah has run the ball on 65.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arizona has a rush percentage of 52.5 percent. The Utes have rushed for 207.1 yards per game (including 199 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 27 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Wildcats are totaling 187.2 rushing yards per game (135.6 in conference) and have 18 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Utes ought to have the more disruptive lines up front, since their offensive line has given up only 32 sacks while their D-line logged 37 sacks. The Wildcats, on the other hand, have given up 20 sacks and their defense has forced only 23 sacks.
The Utes offensive scheme has tallied 248.3 yards/game in the air overall (263.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Wildcats have produced 283 pass yards per contest (285 in the Pac-12) and have 21 total pass scores.
Utah appears to possess the upper hand in both defensive facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 55.4 yards and pass for 193.2 yards per game. The Arizona defense has given up 315.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 164.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Utes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.79 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats have allowed a 7.84 ANY/A.
Offensively, Huntley is up to 2,113 passing yards on the year, and has completed 74 percent of his 185 attempts with 12 scores through the air and only one interception. He’s got a sparkling 11.80 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 13.91 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Utah in this one. Zack Moss, Brant Kuithe and Samson Nacua have collectively accounted for 592 total yards and six touchdowns over the last two outings.
In the home locker room, Grant Gunnell has completed 74-of-110 passes for 874 yards, seven TDs and one INT. Gunnell’s ANY/A sits at 7.54 for the season and 7.26 over his past two games.
We expect the Wildcats to control the game’s pace by getting the ball in the hands of their running backs. Jamarye Joiner (340 receiving yards, three TDs this season) has chipped in lately, but J.J. Taylor (562 rush yards, three rush TDs, 171 receiving yards) and Gary Brightwell (309 rush yards, four rush TDs, 15 receiving yards) have been significant factors in the Arizona offense.
When these two squads met a year ago, Utah won handily 42-10.
Utah Utes at Arizona Wildcats Free Prediction
SU Winner: Arizona, ATS Winner: Arizona, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Utes offense has produced 13 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Wildcats have put up 12 such plays.
- The Utah defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arizona has given up 11 such plays.
- The Utah offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arizona has created 19 such runs.
- The Utes defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Wildcats have given up 12 such runs.
- The Utah D has 23 sacks on the year while Arizona has just 13.
- As a team, Utah has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its last two.
- Arizona has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.0 over its last two.
- Over its last three games, Arizona is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Utah’s last game was set at 52. The O/U pushed in the team’s 49-3 victory over UCLA.
- Over its last three games, Utah is 3-0 ATS.
- The O/U for Arizona’s last game was set at 68.5. The under cashed in the 34-6 loss to Oregon.
