Utah (9-3) at Washington (9-3)
When: Friday, November 30th 2018
Where: Levi’s Stadium,
Santa Clara, California
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Washington -3.5/43.5
The Pac-12 won’t be involved in this year’s College Football Playoff, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for. The Utah Utes and Washington Huskies will battle for the conference title on Friday night and the right to be in the Rose Bowl. Washington was the favorite going into the season to capture the Pac-12 and possibly vie for a spot in the CFP, but an opening week loss to Auburn kind of set the tone for the season. The Huskies rebounded from that setback and won five straight before dropping two of three in October, but beat rival Washington State in the Apple Cup to take home the North Division crown. Utah dropped their first two conference games to Washington State and the Huskies, but won seven of their final eight games to win a competitive South Division despite losing their starting quarterback and running back. Both teams are in the top 20 in total defense and scoring allowed with the Huskies permitting 311.3 yards and 16.5 points, while the Utes surrender 315.8 yards and 19.3 points per game. With a 21-7 road win in Salt Lake City in September, Washington has won five of the six meetings since Utah entered the Pac-12.
Utah lost their top offensive weapons in early November and the production has dropped off a bit, as quarterback Tyler Huntley and tailback Zack Moss accounted for 84 percent of the Utes’ total offense in the first nine games. Freshman Jason Shelley has taken over under center and has rushed for 112 yards in the last three games, while averaging 208 passing yards and has accounted for six touchdowns with no turnovers. Utah’s defense is particularly good against the run, ranking fifth nationally at 100.3 yards allowed. The unit is led by safety-turned-linebacker Chase Hansen, who has recorded a conference-most 22 tackles for loss. Special teams have been terrific for Utah, as they rank in the top 14 nationally in field goals made (23) and net-putting average (40.6).
While Utah is without their experienced backfield, Washington relies heavily on the senior duo of Jake Browning and tailback Myles Gaskin. Browning is having a down year, averaging a career-low 224.3 yards passing a game, but is still the school’s career passing leader and Pac-12’s all-time winningest quarterback, while Gaskin is averaging 107.6 yards rushing and is the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Washington is also terrific against the run, ranking right behind Utah in the conference (121.8) and are also second against the pass at 189.4 yard a contest. The unit is led by senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven, who is tied for the lead nationally with 155 tackles.
Washington has already defeated Utah on the road, and that was against Huntley and Moss. Both teams have terrific defenses, but the Huskies have the edge offensively with their senior leadership. I’ll lay the points here.
Pick: Washington -5.5
Betting Trends:
- Utes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
- Utes are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
- Utes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 conference games.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Utes are 10-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Utes are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Utes are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.
- Huskies are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Friday games.
- Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Huskies are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Huskies are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Huskies are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 conference games.
- Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Huskies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
- Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Utes last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-1 in Utes last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 13-3 in Utes last 16 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Utes last 8 games in November.
- Under is 7-3 in Utes last 10 games on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 8-1 in Huskies last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 games in November.
- Under is 7-2 in Huskies last 9 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3 in Huskies last 12 games overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Huskies last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 6-2 in Huskies last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 6-2 in Huskies last 8 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Huskies last 8 neutral site games.
- Under is 5-2 in Huskies last 7 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 9-4 in Huskies last 13 games on grass.
- Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
