CFB Pac-12: Cal Golden Bears vs. (18) Utah Utes

The California Golden Bears (1-2 / 3-3), who have dropped four straight games ATS, head to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes (1-1 / 4-1) who are in the middle of a massive scoring drought. Utah opened as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 45. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT and can be seen on the Pac-12 Network. We start our UCLA vs Utah odds preview by looking at the Bears from a betting perspective.

Inconsistent Bears Hope To Break Trend

To sports bettors, the worst thing to see is a team alternating covers, making it difficult to get a grasp of the team you’re analyzing. At least in 2023, the bettors are happy because the Bears have consistently been a go-against program after failing to cover in four straight games after a 2-0 ATS start.

For fans, it’s been a nightmare with Cal alternating wins SU. It’s also in the manner in which they’re losing, too. Last week against Oregon State, the Bears were down by a field goal, but they allowed 17 straight points to make an upset unattainable. Head Coach Justin Wilcox said in his press conference that his team played horrible defense. When coaches make public statements like that, you can be that’s the side of the ball that will be the focus of this week’s practice.

Over the last three college football seasons, California is 15-12 ATS (+1.99 units) overall and 9-6 ATS as a dog (+2.42 units). The Bears and Utes have met five times since 2011, with California covering three of those games. Cal trails Utah by a half-game for fifth in the current Pac-12 NCAAF standings. Let’s continue our UCLA vs Utah odds preview by switching our attention to the Utes.

Utah Still With Questions At Quarterback

We’ve done quite a few previews involving Utah, and the same questions Utah, and the same questions rise to dominate the analysis each week: who will be the starting quarterback for the Utes. In the latest version of the same story, head coach Kyle Whittingham said that he still doesn’t know the availability of Cameron Rising, who has been dealing with a Knee injury suffered against Penn State last season in the Rose Bowl.

This week, he’s been listed as questionable, but that line might suggest that this may be the week that Rising returns. It won’t come soon enough for a Utah offense that has a grand total of 21 points in their last two games against Oregon State and UCLA. Only once did Utah score more than 24 points, and that was against FCS Weber State (31-7).

If Rising can’t play, Whittingham will lean on freshman Nate Johnson, who has a long way to go before defenses will shudder after seeing him under center. As a favorite, Utah has failed to cover 11 of their last 19 games and 8 of 14 as a home favorite. Since 2005, NCAAF scores and odds show the Utes are just 2-9 ATS as a home favorite of 10 points or more. We conclude our UCLA vs Utah odds preview with our official selection.

Public Anticipates A Rising

For the most part, Utah opened as a 13.5-point favorite, but some smaller books were pounded after sending out Utah -10. Usually, the public will stand down until they know for sure who will be behind the center, but this quick and early movement tells me that Rising will play.

Favorites who are between -13 and -14 are 15-12-1 this season (+1.61 units), but that’s a switch from a 54-66 record (-16.46 units) over the last three seasons. We like to be edgy, take Utah, and lay the points. That concludes our UCLA vs Utah odds preview, we wish you nothing but the best as we move through another NCAA Football schedule.

For more UCLA vs Utah news, NCAAF odds, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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