Could we see both BYU and Utah in the College Football Playoff field this season? Even after losing at Texas Tech last week, the 12th-ranked Cougars still have a direct path to the Big 12 Championship Game and control their destiny for a CFP berth. So does No. 13 Utah, who could be in line to make a move in next week’s CFP rankings with a win tomorrow night vs. Baylor (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and some help elsewhere.
With three regular season games remaining, the Utes (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) are on the outside looking in for a conference championship game berth, as No. 6 Texas Tech (9-1, 5-1 Big 12), BYU (8-1, 5-1), and No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1) are all ahead of Utah in the conference standings.
Even with either BYU or Cincinnati guaranteed a second loss because the Bearcats host the Cougars next week, the Utes would still need help to reach the Big 12 title game even if they win out.
But if Utah finishes up with wins vs. Baylor, Kansas State (home), and Kansas (away), a CFP at-large berth looms as a potential reward.
The picture may become even clearer this weekend, as No. 11 Oklahoma will visit No. 4 Alabama, No. 10 Texas will visit No. 5 Georgia, and No. 9 Notre Dame will visit No. 22 Pittsburgh.
Will the Utes position themselves to benefit if other CFP hopefuls go down this week? Read on for our Utah vs. Baylor prediction and best bets. Also, get the best betting odds from top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline.
Utah vs. Baylor Betting Trends
- Utah is 7-2 against the spread this season, with all of those games coming as a favorite.
- The Utes are 3-1 SU and ATS on the road, with the lone blemish a 24-21 loss at BYU when favored by 4.5 points.
- The over is 6-3 in Utah’s games this season, including 2-2 in their road games.
- Baylor is 2-7 against the spread this season.
- The Bears are 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS at home this season.
- Baylor is 1-3 SU and ATS as an underdog this season.
- The over is 5-4 in Baylor’s games this season, though the under is 3-2 in their home games.
Utah vs. Baylor Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction: Utah to win
There are a lot of fascinating teams vying for a place in the CFP, and the Utes are one of the most fascinating.
Utah was roughed up by Texas Tech at home and lost a game that they should have won at BYU. However, they have beaten the brakes off everyone else on their schedule. That includes then-No. 17 Cincinnati, who went into Salt Lake City last week and limped out with a 45-14 loss.
Utah has yet to allow more than 14 points in a win, and the blowout of the Bearcats was the Utes’ sixth win in which they scored 40+ points and won by 30+ points. Their lone win to not feature either of those achievements is their 31-6 win at Wyoming on September 13, a hilarious result when you consider what the Utes have done otherwise and the fact that the Cowboys are 4-5.
Defense has featured prominently in wins for Utah, and it should come up big again vs. Baylor. That is because the Utes are built to neutralize Sawyer Robertson and the Bears’ aerial attack.
Utah ranks third in FBS in opponent completion percentage (50.0%), 10th in yards allowed per pass (5.7), tied for sixth in fewest touchdown passes allowed (six), and tied for 17th in sacks (25 – 2nd in the Big 12 behind Texas Tech).
Robertson is tied for the FBS lead in touchdown passes (26) and is averaging 308.9 passing yards per game, one of just five FBS quarterbacks currently averaging 300+ passing yards per game.
But his performances in each of Baylor’s four losses this season have all featured notable flaws. And against the best defense he will face all season, I expect him to make some mistakes that will help Utah pick up a pivotal road win.
Utah vs. Baylor Best Bets
1) Devon Dampier (Utah) Over 69.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at Lucky Rebel)
Along with defense, the ground game has been key to Utah’s success this season. Dampier has not racked up the rushing yards like he did last year at New Mexico, but 262 of his 520 yards this season have come in his last three games.
Against Cincinnati, he returned after missing the Colorado game due to an ankle injury and ran for 78 yards on 14 attempts.
Given what the leader of the Utah offense should do vs. Baylor defense, this total feels a tad low. The Bears rank 15th in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game (177.6) and 13th in rushing yards allowed per attempt (4.5).
Baylor is also 15th in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns allowed (18), so this matchup lines up well to take Dampier to score 2+ touchdowns (+188 at Lucky Rebel).
2) Utah Team Total Over 34.5 Points (-110 at Bovada)
As noted above, Utah has piled up the points in wins, and that should be the case again vs. Baylor.
The Bears have allowed 38, 27, 42, and 41 points in their losses, and they have allowed 45 (in an overtime win at SMU) and 34 (in a win over Kansas State) in two other games.
With what Utah should be able to do on the ground against Baylor, and with the defense potentially keeping it tight and giving Dampier and the offense even more opportunities to score, this is one of my favorite plays among this week’s college football slate.
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