Pac-12: #23 Utah-Stanford
Time: 6 PM ET
Spread: STA -8.5
Total: 42
Betting Odds courtesy of Bovada
Utah was doing very well this season at 6-1 before coming to a halt these past two weeks against tough ranked opponents. The Utes fell to both then-No. 20 USC and No. 4 Oregon the last two weeks to fall to 6-3 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.
Traveling to face Stanford at home might not do Utah any favors, entering the game as 8.5-point underdogs according to college football odds at Bovada.
Utah was uncharacteristically poor last week defensively, in allowing 51 points to the high octane Ducks. Prior to that loss, the Utes had not given up more than 28 points the entire season. Oregon led 27-20 after three quarters but punished the Utes in the fourth, scoring 24 points from three TDs and a FG.
Utah still put together some nice offensive numbers despite the poor D. The Utes had 440 total yards and 22-of-33 passing, but the team struggled converting third downs, getting just 5-of-15. Moreover, turnovers killed the Utes, with two fumbles lost and two interceptions, while Oregon committed just one TO all game. The loss dropped Utah from a No. 17 ranking to the 23rd this week.
Stanford also faced Oregon in its last outing and gave up 45 points in its own right. Like Utah, the Cardinal have a tough defense that hadn’t allowed more than 26 points all season, which was a loss to ranked Arizona State.
The Cardinal aren’t very dangerous offensively though, managing just 24.7 points per game. The pass offense has generated 247.6 yards per game with QB Kevin Hogan taking the snaps. Hogan has thrown for 2,051 yards on the season at a 63.9 percent clip, while having thrown 13 TDs and seven INTs. The Cardinal get good backfield production from Remound Wright and Barry Sanders, who have both combined for over 650 yards this season. Sanders averages 6.3 yards per rush.
Stanford has four WRs with 250 yards or more, paced by Ty Montgomery’s 549 yards on 56 receptions. Devon Cajuste ties Montgomery in TDs with three. Stanford has scored 14 TDs via passing this year while getting 11 from the rush.
