UCLA vs. Utah Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Utah Be Able to Win Without Cam Rising?
Week 4 college football is loaded with great matchups, including a PAC-12 tilt between UCLA and Utah. Will Utah be able to win without Cam Rising? Matt MacKay shares his UCLA vs. Utah prediction and pick.
Matt MacKay - September 18, 2023, 10:17 AM EDT
7 minUCLA vs. Utah Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Utah Be Able to Win Without Cam Rising?
Week 4 college football betting markets are loaded with great matchups, including a PAC-12 tilt between UCLA and Utah. Both teams are undefeated at 3-0, while Utah has faced much stiffer competition, recording a come-from-behind road win at Baylor, scoring 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Despite the absence of quarterback Cam Rising, who is dealing with a knee injury, the Utes have looked sharp. They also got revenge against Florida in Week 1 from a year ago, winning 24-11.
UCLA is without their former star quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but Dante Moore has looked good, recording a 7:1 touchdown to interception ratio as a passer. Head coach Chip Kelly continues to scheme up quality offense, with the Bruins increasing their total point output in each of their first three games. However, all three of UCLA's matchups have been against non-Power 5 conferences, while Utah has faced two Power 5 teams, so they are more battle-tested entering their third home game of the season.
Oddsmakers have the Utes set at -4.5 against the spread, -194 on the moneyline, and a point total of 52.5 for this PAC-12 matchup. The Utes are 11th in the nation, while the Bruins are 22nd, so there's a lot at stake with two quality teams looking to remain undefeated for a chance to earn their first College Football Playoff berth.
NCAAF handicapper Matt MacKay is back with his latest prediction and pick for this game ahead of Saturday's afternoon kickoff from Salt Lake City, Utah.
UCLA vs. Utah Start Time, Where To Watch, and Odds
- Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
UCLA vs. Utah Odds
- Spread: Utah -4.5 (-110), UCLA +4.5 (-109)
- Total Odds: O 51.5 (-108), U 51.5 (-106)
- Moneyline Odds: Utah (-194), UCLA (+175)
UCLA vs. Utah College Injury Report
UTAH
Questionable: QB Cam Rising (Knee), WR Devaughn Vele (Undisclosed), WR Mycah Pittman (Undisclosed)
Out: TE Brant Kuithe (Knee), RB Micah Bernard (Undisclosed)
UCLA
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
UCLA vs. Utah Prediction
Utah's been able to stay undefeated with a relatively tough schedule despite the absence of QB1 Cam Rising. The latest updates suggest a day-to-day status for Rising's injured knee, but for now, let's handicap this game with a combination of Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson under center.
The past five head-to-head matchups between these two PAC-12 opponents have resulted in Utah gaining the edge with a 3-2 record SU, but the Bruins beat the Utes in Los Angeles last year, winning 42-32 as 3.5 point underdogs. This time around, the Bruins are +4.5 ATS, but Utah has won all three games at Rice-Eccles Stadium by at least 20 points since 2017.
UCLA barely beat Coastal Carolina in Week 1, scoring 13 points on three possessions in the fourth quarter, shutting out their Sun Belt opponent. They've since improved with a 35-10 win on the road against San Diego State, while routing North Carolina Central. However, these latter opponents are not in the same tier of competition as Baylor and Florida, which are two of the opponents Utah has beaten during Rising's absence.
Let's not overcomplicate things and roll with the Utes to cover as 4.5-point favorites at home. They have managed to do this comfortably in all three previous head-to-head matchups against the Bruins at Rice-Eccles Stadium, so ignore UCLA surrendering 10 points per game, which ranks eighth in the nation, as it's a misleading stat. Utah may be banged up on offense, but under veteran head coach Kyle Whittingham, the continuity and success of the Utes should manifest quickly on Saturday afternoon.
It's worth considering a sprinkle on the alternate spread for bigger payouts, but for now, let's wager a few units on the Utes to comfortably cover -4.5 at home on Saturday afternoon against UCLA.
UCLA vs. Utah Pick
- Pick: Utah -4.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
College Football Odds
