Oregon vs. Utah football game preview, prediction

College Football HQ locks in a prediction for Oregon vs. Utah in this Week 9 college football game between Pac-12 contenders

Pac-12 championship hopefuls square off in Salt Lake this weekend in a critical conference matchup that could go a long way in helping sort out a competitive title race before the league ceases to exist, as No. 8 Oregon visits No. 13 Utah in college football's Week 9 action on Saturday.

• Both teams are tied for 3rd alongside Oregon State in the Pac-12 standings
• Utes have won 18 straight at home and 29 of the last 30
• Utah ranks 11th nationally in scoring defense
• Ducks are top 10 in passing, rushing, and scoring

Oregon vs. Utah preview, prediction

Oregon vs. Utah football predictions / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Oct. 28
Time: 1:30 p.m. Mountain
TV: Fox network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Oregon vs. Utah game odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Oregon -6.5
Total: 47.5 points
Moneyline: Ducks -250 | Utes +188
FPI pick: Oregon 68.7% to win

What to watch for

1. Battle at the line. Both these teams are the Pac-12's best in pressuring and getting to the quarterback, each being tied for No. 1 in the conference and top-five nationally with 25 sacks generated this season. Oregon's defensive line production is more spread out on the whole than Utah's, which is largely centered around end Jonah Elliss, who tops the Pac-12 and is 3rd nationally with 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. 

2. Turnovers. Generating takeaways will be easier said than done for both teams in this one. Oregon has handed the ball over just once this season, tops in college football, while Utah has turned it over just four times, ranking third in FBS.

3. Unstoppable force. Oregon comes into the game yet to score fewer than 33 points in a game behind an offense that ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring and total production, and is top-five in both passing and rushing touchdowns. Bo Nix leads the nation completing 78.4% of his throws. Utah allowed over 14 points just once this season when it surrendered 32 against USC in a win.

Oregon vs. Utah prediction

Picking against Utah at home with this streak under its belt feels wrong, but the Ducks do project as the overall more well-balanced team on both sides of the ball, particularly when throwing the ball.

Utah's front-line tacklers will clog up the inside running lanes early and often and force the Ducks backs to the outside, while the Utes blockers will chisel away at Oregon's front seven attackers to set up the ground game. This should be a one-score game in the fourth quarter, but the more balanced team wins.

College Football HQ picks...

• Oregon wins 26-23
• Doesn't cover the spread
• And hits the under

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