Colorado vs Utah Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Preview of the Colorado vs Utah matchup with the CFN prediction, why each team will win, and betting lines for the Week 12 game.

Author:
Pete Fiutak
Publish date:
Nov 16, 2024

College Football

College Football News

So Colorado is red hot and will win the national title if it doesn’t lose another football game this season, and Utah is hopelessly awful and playing out the string to get the campaign over with.

Not quite on the first part, and way too overdramatic on the second part, but …

The Utes almost saved their season, but just when it seemed like they had BYU beaten with a late sack, out came the flag, the game stayed alive, and … BYU 22, Utah 21.

There’s still time to at least get bowl eligible with this, Iowa State, and at UCF to close - they need to win two of the three - but they’re on a five-game losing streak thanks to an O that won’t go.

Meanwhile Coach Prime’s team is playing really, really well. Colorado is on a three-game winning streak and won six of the last seven. And yes, if it wins its last three games it’s in the Big 12 Championship.

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders gestures after a touchdown against Texas Tech in a Big 12 football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
© Stephen Garcia/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Colorado vs Utah: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
How to Watch: FOX
Venue: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Teams: Colorado (7-2), Utah (4-5)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 12 Schedule, Predictions

Why Utah Will Win

The defense is still terrific.

It didn’t hold up on the one drive it had to stop against BYU, but overall it’s No. 1 in the nation in third down defense, it’s great against good passing teams, and by a mile this should be the biggest test for the Colorado attack.

Utah is No. 1 in the Big 12 in total defense and scoring D, and although it doesn’t come up with a steady pass rush it’s able to make up for it by limiting the big plays. The key is to keep Shedeur Sanders from hitting the deep shots that turn into back breakers. Utah is allowing passers to only hit 49% of their shots, but …

Why Colorado Will Win

Utah … doesn’t … score.

It took everything to get to 21 against BYU for an offense that hasn’t scored more than 23 in any Big 12 game.

The Utes lost QB Brandon Rose for the season with a leg injury, start TE Brant Kuithe is done, and there isn’t much in place to rise up and keep up with the Colorado offense once it gets rolling.

And then there’s the turnover issue. Colorado’s defense has improved by leaps and bounds from last year. Part of that is about the takeaways with three or more in four of the last seven games. Utah has turned it over 14 times in the last six games.

Colorado vs Utah: Who Will Win?

Utah’s defense will keep this from getting out of hand. It’ll be close into the second half, but just when it seems like there’s an outside shot of an upset brewing, boom.

Sanders and the Colorado offense will score on a crisp four-play scoring drive, a turnover will lead to another score, and Utah won’t have any answers.