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The No. 10 Utah Utes (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) host the No. 14 Houston Cougars (6-1, 3-1) in a top-15 Big 12 battle on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Utah has rolled to an undefeated record halfway through the 2026 season, but this will be its first real test of the season. The Utes own a strength of schedule ranking of 99th, so a win over a top-15 Houston team would go a long way for their College Playoff resume.
Houston, meanwhile, doesn't have that problem. The Cougars played an extremely tight game against a top-10 Texas Tech team before losing it at the end and then escaped a top-20 Oklahoma State squad just last week.
Despite the differences in scheduling, the Utes still enter this game as -6.5 favorites with the over/under sitting at 56.5. So, who holds the advantage in this late-night showdown at Rice-Eccles Stadium?
We polled 11 of our college football experts to get their takes on the spread and total, so let's dive into our Utah vs. Houston picks and college football predictions for Saturday, Oct. 24.
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Utah vs. Houston Spread Pick
Our Staff's Pick: Houston +7
By Joshua Nunn
Our staff is looking at Houston as a team that can go into this matchup and give Utah a four-quarter game, and I agree with the sentiment.
Utah is coming off back-to-back defensive performances in which it gave up 391 total yards to Kansas and 394 to Colorado last week. In fact, the Utes haven't played inspired football in nearly a month.
Opponents are starting to figure out the offensive system where Utah uses multiple quarterbacks, and the play of Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin hasn't looked as sharp in recent weeks.
I'm not in favor of a team trying to turn the switch on and off, and we saw such a lazy performance last week against Colorado that leaves me concerned for this matchup.
Houston will run the football against this defense, and the Cougars should be able to run some RPO and play-action looks off it.
Quarterback Conner Weigman has played exceptional football over the last couple of weeks, throwing nine touchdowns against Kansas State and Oklahoma State.
I expect some explosives through the air against a Utah secondary that's prone to giving up chunk plays.
I'm not convinced that Utah is as elite as it's being priced out to be here. The Utes defeated Arkansas and Utah State in the nonconference and have victories over three of the worst teams in the Big 12.
Houston, meanwhile, is battle-tested and has performed well in two hostile environments already. Now, we're starting to see some 7s flash in the market. That's the side I'd want to be on in this matchup.
Utah vs. Houston Over/Under Pick
Over 56.5 | 5Â Picks |
Pass | 4Â Picks |
Under 56.5 | 2Â Picks |
Our Staff's Pick: Over 56.5
It’s essentially over or nothing for the Action Network staff. Nine of the 11 votes are either rooting for points or passing, with over 56.5 getting the top nod.
Houston started the season 4-0 to the over and are 5-2 overall. Last week, the Cougars finished over the total in a 35-32 barn burner vs. Oklahoma State.
Quarterback play is as important as ever to offensive success in college football. Houston and Utah have two very experienced, reliable signal-callers.
The Cougars are led by Conner Weigman, who’s settling in as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country.
Weigman has 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions through the air. He has also contributed high volume on the ground, racking up 229 more yards and six additional scores.
Last season, Houston averaged 5.5 yards per play. That number has risen nearly a full yard (6.4), as the Cougars rank 21st in the nation in that area.
Sitting right behind Houston in yards per play is Utah (6.1). The Utes are 4-2 to the over this season and coming off a scary 27-24 nail-biter against Colorado.
However, the Utes will now return to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where they’ve averaged 45.7 points per game. They have a strong advantage against a Cougars defense that’s No. 99 nationally in yards per play allowed (6.0).
Devon Dampier is a true dual-threat, and he's hard to contain. He’s excelling as a passer with three games of three-plus passing touchdowns.
The PRO dashboard is noting sharp action on the over as of Friday night. Here’s to a busy scoreboard!
Utah vs. Houston Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -105 | 56.5 -110o / -110u | -260 |
| Houston Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -115 | 56.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
