Utah vs. Washington Game Prediction, Preview

Making our predictions for Washington vs. Utah in this Week 11 college football game

Two of the best teams in the Pac-12 Conference meet on the same field this weekend in a battle between an offense that is the nation's best and a defense that is one of the most dominant in college football, as No. 5 Washington welcomes No. 18 Utah in Saturday's Week 11 action.

• Huskies are No. 1 nationally in passing production per game
• And are 4th in scoring average with 41.7 points each time out
• Washington stayed undefeated after taking down USC on the road
• Utes are 4-2 in conference play and 2-2 against ranked teams this year
• Utah's two losses came when it scored less than 10 points

Utah vs. Washington preview, prediction

Utah vs. Washington predictions / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Nov. 11
Time: 12:30 p.m. Pacific
TV: Fox network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Utah vs. Washington game odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Washington -9.5
Total: 49.5 points
Moneyline: UW -400 | Utah +280
FPI pick: Washington 69.3% to win

Keys to the game

1. Battle at the line. Washington's offensive line has broadly protected quarterback Michael Penix very well this season, giving him the time to build college football's No. 1 ranked passing attack. Utah's front seven will pose a credible challenge to the Huskies' protection, ranking 11th nationally with 29 sacks this season and has the bodies to gain a first-step advantage and work through the interior gaps to shrink the pocket.

2. Throwing on the Huskies. Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes has played wildly inconsistent and is yet to complete 20 passes in a game this season. He threw 7 of his 8 TD passes this year in 2 of the last 3 games. One primary weakness Washington has is pass coverage, as the secondary unit ranks No. 121 out of 133 FBS teams this season by allowing 270 yards in the air to opponents on average.

3. Washington's big plays. The way to get around a defense that plays physical coverage is to create space and put your best players in it to create longer gains. Luckily, that's what the Huskies do best. They have 63 plays of 20-plus yards, the 4th best mark nationally, and are 5th with 31 plays of 30-plus yards. Of those gains, 80% of the 20-yarders are passes, as are 74% of the 30-yarders. 

Utah vs. Washington prediction

The only way that Utah can win the game is if it can run the ball with consistency, and how Washington has defended against opposing backs suggests that's possible. The Huskies allow a success rate of just under 46 percent, a mark that ranks 114th nationally, and are surrendering almost 4.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Utah can adequately rush the passer, throw Penix out of rhythm on some of his throws, and it plays some of the better secondary coverage in the conference. But eventually the dam breaks.

College Football HQ picks...

• Washington wins 36-30
• Doesn't cover the spread
• And hits the over

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