BYU vs Utah Prediction: Are the Utes Ready To Be a Big Deal?

The Big 12 didn’t exactly catch a break from the College Football Playoff committee last year when it left out BYU and Utah, who both finished with just two losses before the final rankings.

But both earned their stripes this time around.

Last year, the complaint was a relatively light BYU non-conference schedule. This year, is handing Notre Dame its only loss so far good enough for everyone?

Last year, Utah destroyed a bad UCLA team 43-10, but it lost to both BYU and Texas Tech. This year, does giving Arkansas – you know, from the beloved SEC – its worst loss of the season so far (43-10, crazily enough) do it for you?

Utah got the respect in the first round of the College Football Playoff rankings with a No. 3 spot. Now the program has to show it can have nice things. There will still be work to do, but win this, and then look out.

BYU vs Utah: Quick Hits

• BYU is No. 9 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. Two of the last three games are at home, starting with Baylor next week.

• Utah goes on the road to Arizona and TCU after this, and closes with West Virginia.

• BYU won the last three meetings, including 24-21 last year. Utah won nine in a row before that, going back to 2009.

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How To Watch BYU vs Utah

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ABC
Location: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
– Week 10 Schedule, Predictions
– CFN Top 25 | Bowl Projections
– Expert Picks: Week 10

Why BYU Will Win

BYU’s offensive line has been fantastic. It’s No. 4 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed, giving up just five this year, and it leads all of college football in fewest tackles for loss given up, getting hit for just 17.

For all of the fantastic things Utah does, it doesn’t get into opposing backfields. This is where the Cougars have to be patient. Utah loves to control games with long drives, lots of third down conversions, and winning the time of possession battle.

The Cougars didn’t beat Notre Dame because they converted eight of 12 third down tries, but they went a long way to pulling it off.

Why Utah Will Win

That’s the Utah we were all waiting for.

It was great against Arkansas, and was good against Kansas and Iowa State, but it sputtered against Colorado and had to hang on late to get by Houston. And then it thunderdunked on the same Cincinnati team that rolled against Texas Tech, getting up 42-6 going into halftime.

If you thought the Utes would be looking ahead to this game – hand raised high – nope; it was a fully focused machine with everything clicking offensively.

BYU hasn’t played anyone who runs well – including Arizona, and to a certain extent, Notre Dame. That includes UCF, too, who is currently 11th in the 16-team Big 12 in rushing. Who was the one team that did a decent job on the ground against the Cougar defense?

BYU gave up a season-high 170 rushing yards in the loss to UCF. That was the only time so far that the Cougar run defense allowed more than four yards per carry. However …

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BYU vs Utah Prediction, Betting Lines

Utah has rushed for more than four yards per carry in every game except for the strange 27-24 win over Colorado, and ran for 190 yards or more against everyone but the Buffs and Arkansas – Devon Dampier ripped it up with the passing game.

BYU will play a smart, sharp game, but Utah will grind this out and hold on to the ball just a little bit longer. Utah’s Dillon Curtis will hit a late field goal to put it away.

Utah 27, BYU 23
Latest Consensus Line: Utah -4.5, o/u: 48.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 1.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 5

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com