Utah vs Arizona Prediction 9-28-24 College Football Picks
Arizona Wildcats (2-1) vs. Utah Utes (4-0)
September 28, 2024 10:15 pm EDT
The Line: Utah Utes -11 / Arizona Wildcats +11; Over/Under: +56.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona Wildcats and the Utah Utes meet in week 5 college football action from Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Utah vs Arizona Prediction.
Arizona Recap
The Arizona Wildcats come into this one looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season after ending up with a 31-7 loss to Kansas State last time out, dropping to 2-1 on the year. After this game, Arizona will head home for a matchup with Texas Tech.
Wildcats Trying To Pick Up Huge Road Win
Noah Fifita has thrown for 863 yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on 63.6% passing while Quali Conley has a team-high 250 rushing yards with 4 TDs and Jacory Croskey-Merritt has 106 rushing yards as well. Tetairoa McMillan leads Arizona’s receiving group with 23 receptions for 453 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. On defense, Jacob Manu has a team-high 27 total tackles. As a unit, Arizona’s defense has combined for 6 sacks and a pair of interceptions so far this season.
Why the Arizona Wildcats will win
- Arizona has won nine of its last 10 games.
- Arizona has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games against AP-ranked teams.
- Utah has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four September games against non-AP-ranked teams.
Utah Recap
The Utah Utes come into this one looking to remain unbeaten, improving to 4-0 on the year after a 22-19 road win over Oklahoma State last time out. After this game, the Utes will head back out on the road to do battle with Arizona State.
Utes Trying To Hold Down The Fort At Home
Cameron Rising has thrown for 346 yards and 7 touchdowns on 62.1% passing while Isaac Wilson has thrown for 550 yards, 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 58.5% passing. Micah Bernard has a team-high 456 rushing yards while Brant Kuithe leads the Utes’ receiving group with 216 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Dorian Singer also has a team-high 17 grabs for 204 yards while Money Parks and Dijon Stanley each have 150+ receiving yards. On defense, Van Filinger has a team-high 20 total tackles and 5.5 sacks while Tao Johnson has a team-high 14 solo tackles as part of his 20 total tackles. Connor O’Toole also has 2.5 sacks while Utah’s defense as a whole has combined for 12 sacks and 5 interceptions.
Why the Utah Utes will win
- Utah has won each of its last 31 games against non-AP-ranked teams at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
- Arizona has lost each of its last nine September games against AP-ranked teams.
- The favorite has covered the spread in six of the last seven games between Arizona and Utah.
- Arizona has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three games.
Utah vs Arizona Prediction
I’m on Utah here. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the Utes over the last few seasons, it’s that Rice-Eccles is where offenses go to die. Rice-Eccles is a fortress and Utah’s made it one of the toughest road environments in the country to go and compete in, let alone win. We haven’t seen Arizona really take out anyone with a pulse this season and their first big test ended with a thud in the loss to Kansas State. I think that Utah’s defense holds it down at home and nabs a huge win on home soil here. Give me the Utes for the cover.