Utah opened against Cincinnati with two touchdown drives of at least 75 yards, then scored twice on defense before halftime. BYU’s best chance to keep Saturday’s Holy War close is to make the unbeaten Utes drive the length of the field and keep those extra points off the board.
BYU’s pass rush can test Utah’s long drives
Utah held the ball for more than 10 minutes in the first quarter of its 49–25 win at Cincinnati. Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, while Wayshawn Parker ran for 82 yards, according to the Associated Press recap. If Utah keeps getting manageable third downs, Dampier can keep handing off to Parker or throw for the first down, leaving BYU fewer chances to answer.
DraftKings had Utah favored by 5.5 at 12:06 p.m. ET Wednesday. Utah has covered seven of eight this season, and BYU has covered six of eight at its own lines. The Cougars had six first-half sacks in their 27–20 win over Arizona State, per the AP recap. They also surrendered a 14-point lead in the third quarter after the Sun Devils extended drives on third and fourth down. Watch whether BYU can get Utah into obvious passing situations and then finish those stops. On the other side, Bear Bachmeier converted two fourth downs on BYU’s final touchdown drive, including a fourth-and-1 from his own 14 with a three-point lead.
Sharpest Bets Premium
Get our BYU vs. Utah picks.
Unlock our model's best bets for this matchup, plus projections, trends, and matchup analysis. Start with a free 7-day trial, then save 20% every month with code PREVIEW20.
At 48.5, field position can change the game
DraftKings priced both sides of 48.5 at −110 in the same snapshot. Utah’s last two games produced 74 and 34 points. The 74 came with a fumble-return touchdown and a pick-six against Cincinnati. The week before, Utah beat Houston 21–13. BYU’s last game went over its own 46.5 line but finished at 47, short of this week’s number.
If Utah has to start deep and BYU can limit the big plays, both teams may need long possessions to get their points. A takeaway that sets up a short field changes that quickly. BYU’s early fumble recovery against Arizona State set up its first touchdown, and a BYU fumble later gave the Sun Devils the ball at the Cougars’ 39. Watch where the first few drives start. A short field can put points on the board even if the game has few possessions.
We break down every matchup
Find current lines and sharp picks for the rest of Saturday’s slate on the college football betting board.
Odds and projections are snapshots and can change. Wagering involves risk.
More matchups to explore
Unlock our Premium picks. Free.
Get our sharpest picks, team grades, and projected score in your inbox.