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Utah vs. Arizona prediction, odds, line: 2024 college football picks, Week 5 bets from proven model
By CBS Sports Staff,
1 days ago
The No. 10 Utah Utes look to exact some revenge on the Arizona Wildcats for a 42-18 loss last year as they square off in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. Utah (4-0) enters off a 22-19 win at No. 14 Oklahoma State, while Arizona had Week 4 off after a 31-7 defeat at No. 14 Kansas State. These teams meet for the first time as members of the Big 12 after having both played in the Pac-12. Before last year's win, the Arizona had lost the previous five meetings against the Utes.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
After a bye week, the Wildcats must get on track after a sluggish three game start to the season. Quarterback Noah Fifita , who won seven of his nine starts in 2023, hasn't been nearly as efficient this season. Last year, he threw for 2,515 yards with 23 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. Thus far in 2024, Fifita has thrown for 863 yards five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has struggled the last two games behind an offensive line that is not blocking as soundly as they were last season.
Fifita's high school teammate, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan , might be the favorite for the Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver in the country. After a 10-catch, 304-yard, four-touchdown performance in Week 1, McMillan posted an 11-catch, 138-yard performance vs. Kansas State. Last year against the Utes, he caught eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. For the Wildcats to keep the game within reach on Saturday, the Fifita-McMillan connection must succeed against the stingy Utah defense. See which team to pick here .
Why Utah can cover
Will star QB Cam Rising be back to face Arizona or will freshman Isaac Wilson get the call once again? Rising has battled a number of injury issues in his brief return this season after sitting out all of 2023 with a knee injury. Wilson has played fairly well the last two weeks, leading the Utes to back-to-back road victories at Utah State and at a ranked Oklahoma State team.
The Utes have plenty of offensive weapons, including running back Micah Bernard , who is averaging nearly seven yards per rush on his 66 carries this season. Tight end Brant Kuithe has scored four times and leads the team with 216 receiving yards, but former Arizona and USC wide receiver Dorian Singer is right behind him with 204. Against an Arizona defense which has struggled against New Mexico and Kansas State this season, the Utes may produce well regardless of who their QB is on Saturday night. Also there is a revenge angle in play as Arizona threw a long touchdown pass in the final minute of last year's game, which has left some Utah players, coaches and fans looking for a measure of payback. See which team to pick here .
How to make Utah vs. Arizona picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 61 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine .
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