No. 9 BYU and No. 3 Utah meet Saturday at noon ET in Salt Lake City with Big 12 supremacy and College Football Playoff implications on the line. The Cougars (7-1, 4-1) are second in the conference after a 27-20 win over Arizona State, while the Utes (8-0, 5-0) lead the league following a 49-25 victory at Cincinnati.
Betting Odds and Model Projections
Utah enters as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has simulated the matchup 10,000 times, leans toward the Over, noting that the total has cleared in three straight BYU games and six of Utah's last 10. The model projects BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier to throw for 220 yards and one touchdown, while Utah quarterback Devon Dampier is projected for over 230 yards and two touchdowns. Combined, the model expects 50 total points, with the Over hitting in 54% of simulations.
Spread Pick
The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in more than 60% of simulations, though that specific selection is available only through SportsLine. The Utes are 5-0 at home this season, while BYU is 2-1 on the road.
