Cardinals phenom Isaac Brown waited for fullback Justyn Reid to reach a Florida State linebacker, then raced 97 yards for a touchdown. Louisville’s running back finished with 235 yards on 17 carries in a 44–20 win. Syracuse gets that offense at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for Family Weekend, their first game at the JMA Wireless Dome in five weeks. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
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Colorado vs. Utah prediction, preview
Utah running back Wayshawn Parker turned third-and-one into a 90-yard touchdown against Kansas. His other 15 carries gained 81 yards, enough to move Utah steadily when he wasn’t racing the length of the field. Offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven also put two quarterbacks on the field. Backup Byrd Ficklin faked a pitch to starter Devon Dampier and ran for eight yards; later, he completed a 20-yard pass. With Ficklin able to throw, Colorado’s safeties must respect the receivers even when Utah adds another runner. The bye gave them extra time to rehearse those responsibilities.
Their front can disrupt Utah’s rebuilt offensive line. Edge rusher Lamont Lester Jr. remains questionable, but the Buffs made 12 tackles for loss against Tech without him. Near their goal line, they stopped consecutive runs on third-and-one and fourth-and-one. Utah can throw for those yards. Against Kansas, 317-pound tight end Semi Taulanga feigned a lead block, slipped outside and caught Dampier’s fourth-down touchdown. Utah finished all five red-zone possessions with touchdowns.
Colorado quarterback Isaac Wilson, who will start again, initially picked Tech apart. He threw to receiver Joseph Williams for a touchdown on third-and-six, completing a 75-yard march. Williams caught passes for seven and 19 yards on the next drive, only for Wilson to lose a yard on third-and-two and kicker Elliott Arnold to miss from 29 yards. Colorado never scored again. Wilson threw three interceptions, wasting the afternoon’s promising start.
Utah vs. Colorado pick, best bet
Williams should find room against Utah’s secondary. Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall threw for 333 yards last week as Utah struggled in man coverage; head coach Morgan Scalley criticized late alignments and defenders failing to locate the ball. Injured cornerback JC Hart remains out. Wilson praised his blockers after Tech, when freshman Xavier Payne made his first start at left tackle, and blamed himself for the interceptions. Coordinator Brennan Marion has spent the bye urging him to tuck the ball and run when a play breaks down. Wilson still has to make that decision in a game.
Marion also needs more from backs who scraped out 32 yards on 14 carries against Tech. Utah held Kansas to 58 rushing yards; without help on early downs, Wilson has to rescue possession after possession through the air. Wilson’s giveaways could hurry Utah into the thirties, making Colorado’s 14.5 points less attractive. I prefer under 49.5. Williams can help the Buffs improve on their seven-point afternoon, but their feeble ground game should strand them too often for that improvement to become a shootout.
Best bet: Under 49.5 (-110).
Projected score: Utah 31, Colorado 13.
Best Bet: Colorado vs. Utah u49.5 total points scored (-110)
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