The 12th-ranked Utah Utes will look to extend their winning ways when they host a California Golden Bears team that will be desperate to snap out of the funk they’ve been in the last three weeks. While the Utes are playing at home and the clear-cut, three-touchdown plus favorite, Utah could have some challenges in trying to get the win and ATS cover in this Week 9 Pac-12 pairing. With the Utes looking to take another step toward a conference title and a possible New Year’s Day bowl game, let’s find out if Utah is the pick to take care of business or whether the Bears can pull off the outright upset or ATS cover.
California vs Utah 2019 College Football Week 9 Lines & Game Preview
- When: Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
- TV: FS1
- Radio: California / Utah
- Live Stream: FoxSportsGo
- College Football Week 9 Odds: Utah -21.5 / Total: 36.5
Weather Forecast
- Snow Showers Late: 0°C/32°F
- Humidity: 62%
- Precipitation: 50%
- Wind: 8 mph NNW
- Cloud Cover: 49%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Why Bet On California?
Cal has lost three straight and comes into this contest off a humbling 21-17 upset loss against Oregon State while never coming close to covering the spread as a 10-point home favorite. Still, there is some hope the Bears can cover the spread in this one, mostly because they rank an encouraging 20th nationally in points allowed (20.0 ppg). Cal also upset Utah last season, winning 28-23 at home as a 2-point underdog. Another good reason to back the Bears is because Utah could be without starting quarterback Tyler Huntley in this matchup. The bad news is that Cal could be without backup quarterback Devon Modster after he was forced to leave in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s loss to Oregon State with an apparent lower-body injury.
If Modster can’t go in this one, true freshman Spencer Brasch will make his first start after completing 2-of-6 passes for 24 yards and an interception in the loss to the Beavers.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 20.33
- Total Yards: 331
- Pass Yards: 196.83
- Rush Yards: 134.17
- Average Score Against: 18.33
- Total Yards: 372.50
- Pass Yards: 214.83
- Rush Yards: 157.67
Why Bet On Utah?
Despite the fact that Tyler Huntley is banged-up, the Utes look like a good pick in this one because they have a far superior offense that averages 13 points per game more than Cal’s mediocre offensive unit. There’s also the fact that Utah has an elite defense that limits the opposition to just 11.7 points per game to rank sixth nationally in points allowed. Last but not least, Huntley could suit up for this affair. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was non-committal on Huntley’s playing status for this contest, but Huntley told the Salt Lake Tribune “I’m playing” following a team weightlifting session Monday.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 34.83
- Total Yards: 466.33
- Pass Yards: 238.50
- Rush Yards: 227.83
- Average Score Against: 13.17
- Total Yards: 271.50
- Pass Yards: 218.67
- Rush Yards: 52.83
College Football Week 9 Betting Trends for California vs Utah
- California is 3-6 ATS in the last 9 games
- California is 2-4 SU in the last 6 games against Utah
- The total went UNDER in 8 of California’s last 9 games
- Utah is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 games played in October
- Utah is 6-1 SU in the last 7 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Utah’s last 5 games
California vs Utah Expert Analysis and Prediction
While the home team in this Pac-12 rivalry has gone 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings, the underdog has gone an identical 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Utah has gone an uninspiring 2-6 ATS in their last eight games against a team with a winning record while Cal has gone a near-perfect 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and an equally impressive 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games. While Utah is the easy pick to take care of business as far as the straight-up win is concerned, I’m going with cal to cover a point spread I feel is a few points too high.
Pick: Utah 30 Cal 23
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