Utah vs. Oregon State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Cam Rising Finally Make His Season Debut?
The Utah Utes travel to Corvallis, Oregon to take on the Oregon State Beavers this Friday. Will Cam Rising finally make his season debut? Jason Radowitz breaks down the Utah vs. Oregon State game.
Jason Radowitz - September 25, 2023, 9:13 AM EDT
7 minUtah vs. Oregon State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Cam Rising Finally Make His Season Debut?
The Utah Utes are 4-0 this season. However, they've done it without their No. 1 quarterback, Cam Rising, who tore his ACL in last year's Rose Bowl.
He's been questionable throughout the last month. However, some reports suggest he might be available this weekend against Oregon State for the first time.
Utah has won games behind Nate Johnson, who has earned just 398 yards and two touchdowns this season. The running game has averaged more yards per game than the passing game for Utah. Therefore, having Rising back in the mix would be huge.
On the other hand, Oregon State is coming off a deflating road loss to Washington State, 38-35. The Beavers are typically good on defense but weren't elite in their last game.
Can the Beavers return to playing lockdown defense on Friday night against Utah?
Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Friday's game between the Utah Utes vs. Oregon State Beavers.
Utah vs. Oregon State Date, Start Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: September 29, 2023
- Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: FS1
Utah vs. Oregon State Odds
- Spread: Utah +1.5 (-110), Oregon State -1.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: O/U 45.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Utah (-120), Oregon State (+100)
Utah vs. Oregon State Injury Report
Utah
Questionable: DE Connor O'Toole (Undisclosed), WR Mycah Pittman (Undisclosed), QB Cameron Rising (Knee), QB Brandon Rose (Undisclosed)
Out: TE Brant Kuthe (Knee)
Oregon State
Questionable: WR Tastean Reddicks (Undisclosed)
Utah vs. Oregon State Prediction
The Utah Utes could use Cam Rising back.
Although Utah is 4-0 to begin the year, the offense only averages 322.5 yards per game. They've added more yards on the ground than in the air through the season's first four weeks.
That wouldn't be the case with Cam Rising. But he's been out with a knee injury since the start of the season after tearing his ACL in the Rose Bowl last year.
Some were optimistic Rising was going to play against UCLA last weekend. However, he didn't, and the Utes escaped UCLA at home, 14-7.
The Utah defense is electric. The secondary has played exceptionally well, and the defense rarely misses tackles. The Utes have also allowed just 51 yards on the ground and have a fierce pass rush that will create havoc.
However, it's hard to know if Utah's offense can keep up against Oregon State's.
The Oregon State Beavers have earned nearly 460 yards of offense per game, including 224.8 yards on the ground. The Beavers have one of the best run games in the nation behind Damien Martinez. Martinez has rushed for 432 yards in four games on 57 carries. That's an average of 7.6 yards per carry.
Oregon State has also watched DJ Uiagalelei's resurgence. Uiagalelei was never a significant impact at Clemson, but he's thrown for 828 yards and seven touchdowns for the Beavers this season. His QBR is now in the top 25 of the entire FBS.
On defense, Oregon State is dominant against the run, holding opponents to 69.8 yards per game. However, the Beavers aren't converting tackles at a high rate and don't have a disruptive pass rush.
Still, against Utah and the unknowns behind Cam Rising and the Utah offense, I like Oregon State to score at a much better pace than Utah.
Give me Oregon State in this one.
Utah Utes vs. Oregon State Beavers Pick
- PICK: Oregon State -1.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick.
College Football Odds
