The Utah Utes are Live Underdogs on Saturday

Oct 12, 2013

Utah remains one of the most underrated teams in college football as the Utes are only a few turnovers away from being 5-0 this season.  Taking a closer look at Utah’s two losses reveals that the Utes were -3 in turnovers in their 51-48 overtime loss to Oregon State and -4 in turnovers in their 34-27 loss to UCLA last week.  There are several scheduling situations that favor Utah this afternoon, including the fact that the Utes are 12-3 SU and 12-2-1 ATS in Game Sixes over the last fifteen seasons (4-0-1 ATS as underdogs) and 15-3 SU in the second of back-to-back home games.  The experts at Pro Edge Sports believe the Utah Utes are live underdogs on Saturday:

Utah Offense:

  • Utah is averaging 39.0 points per game this season on 5.2 yards per rush play, 8.7 yards per pass attempt, 6.9 yards per play and 12.3 yards per point;
  • Overall, the Utes are 0.9 yards per rush play, 1.5 yards per pass attempt, 1.3 yards per play and 0.6 yards per point better than average offensively in 2013.

Utah Defense:

  • Utah is allowing 26.2 points per game on 3.1 yards per rush play, 7.4 yards per pass attempt and 5.1 yards per play.  The Utes have also registered a conference-high 18 sacks, with linebacker Jacoby Hale leading the way with 3.0.
  • Overall, the Utes are 1.1 yards per rush play and 0.4 yards per play better than average defensively, while being 0.3 yards per pass play worse than average.

Utah has outgained Utah State, Oregon State, BYU and UCLA 6.1 yards per play to 5.7 yards per play, which is extremely impressive in light of the fact that the foregoing teams combine to outgain their opponents by 0.9 yards per play.  Utah is 51-29 ATS as underdogs since 1992, including 30-15 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points.  More importantly, Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, who threw six interceptions last week, is finally getting healthy after battling a virus all week.  “He was in bed the whole game day leading up to that game,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Tuesday.  “He got sick, actually, the night before that, and hasn’t gotten over it yet.”

Pro Edge Sports would not be surprised if Utah wins this game outright.  In short, getting 7.5 to 8 points is completely unjustified in light of Utes’ talent on both sides of the ball.