Utah vs. Baylor Prediction & Odds
Number 12 Utah heads to Waco to face unranked Baylor at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday on ESPN. Can the Utes cover the 7.5-point spread as road favorites this weekend?
Utah is 1-0 straight up this season and 1-0 against the spread. Their only win came against Florida.
Baylor is 0-1 straight up this season and 0-1 against the spread. Their lone loss came against Texas State.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
319 Utah Utes (-7.5) at 320 Baylor Bears (+7.5); O/U 47
12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2023
McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas
Utah vs. Baylor Public Betting Information
As of this writing, the public is heavily favoring the Utes in this game. Our CFB Public Betting page shows that a whopping 89% of public bets are on Utah -7.5. Note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once game time rolls around.
Utah Utes Game Notes
Utah quarterback Cam Rising missed the team’s first game of the season, which was a 24-11 home win over Florida. He is apparently doing “good things and progressing nicely” according to Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham. Rising is officially listed as questionable, but people around the team seem optimistic that he’s going to play. If Cam Rising can’t play, Utah will likely use redshirt junior Bryson Barnes at quarterback. Barnes completed 12 of 18 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown against Florida while adding 11 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in his team’s Week 1 win.
Utah starting running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was hindered by an unknown issue in last Thursday’s game, and he’s officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s tilt against Baylor. Jackson recorded 5 carries for 15 yards against Florida and posted 531 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns on 78 carries last season.
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Baylor Bears Game Notes
Baylor will be without starting quarterback Blake Shapen against Utah on Saturday. Shapen apparently suffered an MCL injury as he was under siege during most of Baylor’s 42-31 loss to Texas State last weekend. In his stead, the Bears will likely start sophomore Mississippi State transfer Sawyer Robertson. Robertson has only thrown 23 career college passes and 2 of them have been intercepted. He’ll likely have his hands full against a tough Utah defense on Saturday.
Baylor’s starting free safety Devin Lemear will also miss Saturday’s game as he’s dealing with a dislocated elbow. Lemear had 55 total tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries for the Bears last season.
Utah vs. Baylor Betting Trends
The over is 10-4 in Baylor’s last 14 games.
Utah was 6-4 ATS after a win last season.
Utah is 8-4 ATS as a favorite in their last 12 games.
Utah was 2-0 ATS with the rest advantage last season.
Utah vs. Baylor Betting Prediction
Utah is one of the better teams in the Pac-12 and should compete for a conference crown again this season. They are looking like they’ll get their star quarterback Cam Rising back for this contest, which could be huge for them. Rising is a tough player who knows how to lead a team and his leadership could prove valuable in this road test on Saturday.
The fact that Baylor’s starting quarterback Blake Shapen will miss this game only adds insult to injury for the Bears. Baylor gave up 42 points to Texas State last weekend and lost as 26.5-point favorites to a team filled with transfers and cast-offs. Utah is much better than that team, and the Bears will be forced to start an inexperienced Sawyer Robertson at quarterback against one of the tougher defenses (54th in opponent points per play last season) in the nation. I like the Utes to make it back-to-back wins over non-conference Power 5 opponents on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 PREDICTION: UTAH UTES -7.5