It doesn’t get much bigger than this.
No. 7 BYU heads to Salt Lake City on Saturday to take on No. 3 Utah in a Top 10 Holy War that could have massive implications for both the Big 12 Championship race and the College Football Playoff.
Utah enters the rivalry game as the Big 12’s only unbeaten team at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play after going on the road and hammering Cincinnati 49-25 last weekend. The Utes have climbed all the way to No. 3 in the AP Poll and have established themselves as the team to beat in the Big 12.
BYU isn’t far behind. The Cougars bounced back from their first loss of the season at UCF by beating Arizona State 27-20 to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play.
And then there’s the rivalry.
BYU has won three straight Holy Wars, including a 24-21 win last season, and now gets an opportunity to spoil Utah’s perfect season while putting itself right back at the front of the Big 12 Championship race.
It’s a Top 10 matchup. It’s the Holy War. And the stakes couldn’t be much higher.
So, who gets it done in Salt Lake City? Let’s get to our BYU vs. Utah prediction, pick and preview for Week 10.
Utah vs. BYU Odds
- Spread: Utah -5.5
- Over/Under: 48.5
- Moneyline: Utah -205/BYU +168
Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.
The Biggest Question: LJ Martin’s Status?
There has been hope and some expectation that BYU running back LJ Martin would possibly return from injury for this massive Top 10 match up. However, my bet is that even if he is available, he’s unlikely to be 100% following a lower-body injury last month. BYU OC Aaron Roderick said this week, “He’s not all the way back yet. He’s running and we’re trying to bring him along. I’ll know more once I see him do more stuff this week.” Last week he didn’t really do anything. We’ll find out some more this week.”
Maybe BYU is just playing it close to the vest, but regardless of what this week’s injury report says, I would be shocked if Martin is back to 100% this week for the game in Salt Lake City.
Utah vs. BYU Prediction and Pick
Prediction: Utah 28, BYU 20
The Utah Utes are home and undefeated, while BYU comes in limping after a road loss to UCF in double overtime, and a game that was closer than it should have been against a banged-up and young Arizona State team at home. Utah is healthy and playing some of its best football of the season. Yes, it’s the Holy War, and the rivalry seemingly is always close, but right now, there feels like there is a gap between these two teams.
Factor in the early start time (10:00 am local time), which while there is no time change obviously, seems to benefit the home team in a bigger way than people are expecting.
The last two games, BYU has been outgained 120 total yards in the rushing game. Now, the Utah Utes come into this game with the No. 3 running attack in the Big 12, with Utah averaging 227 yards per game, while Utah’s running defense is Top 5 in the Big 12, giving up 101 yards per game, and two yards per game back of the No. 2 team in the league (Baylor). So while both teams rank in the Top 10 in the country in net yards per play, the trends the last couple of weeks strongly favor Utah in this game at home.
If BYU was elite at forcing turnovers and turnover margin, I might feel differently about a close rivalry game, but they are No. 96 in the country in turnover margin. Give me Utah.
Utah wins. Utah covers.
