[tps_title]Colorado at Utah[/tps_title]
[tps_header]12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks[/tps_header]
COLORADO (4-8, 1-7) AT
UTAH (8-3, 5-3)
12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks
Pointspread: Utah is favored by 16.5 points
— Things keep getting worse for the Utah football program. The Utes lost the centerpiece of their offense when Devontae Booker had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus last week. Then Utah dropped out of contention for a Pac-12 title with a 17-9 loss to UCLA and subsequently fell out of the AP poll despite being ranked No. 3 in the country a month ago. Now the Utes are without leading receiver Britain Covey, who suffered a leg injury last Saturday. Coach Kyle Whittingham didn’t know if he would miss a bowl game because it’s not set yet.
— Booker is third in school history with 2,773 yards rushing and Covey leads the team in receptions (41), receiving yards (518) and touchdown catches (four). The Utes plugged in Joe Williams at running back and he rushed for 121 yards on 26 carries last week.
— QB Travis Wilson was a little more involved in the run game last week, rushing for 67 yards on 18 carries wh ile being more aggressive with the read-option. Utah finished with 197 rushing yards but passed for 110. Whittingham wouldn’t say if that’s a permanent tweak to help account for the loss of Booker, but said the receivers have to get more separation for the pass game to work.
— The Utes rank No. 11 in the Pac-12 and No. 98 in the country with 196.5 passing yards per game. It’s questionable whether that can be fixed 12 games into a season without the team’s top two pass-catchers. Booker had 37 receptions to rank No. 2 on the team.
— Wilson tied a career high with 311 passing yards and threw for three TDs in a 38-34 win at Colorado last season. This year’s Buffaloes team ranks fourth in the Pac-12 with 227.4 passing yards allowed per game. Colorado, though, gave up a season-high 332 passing yards in last Saturday’s 27-3 loss at then-No. 24 Washington State. Offensively, the Buffs got just three points out of six drives into Cougars territory.
Colorado is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Colorado is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado’s last 5 games
Colorado is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Utah is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah’s last 6 games
Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
My pick: Utah will win but Colorado will cover
Steve Rivera’s pick: Utah will win and cover
Anthony Gimino’s pick: Utah will win and cover
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