The Utah Utes take on the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie, Wyoming, on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Utah is favored by -23.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2800. Wyoming, meanwhile, comes in at +1300 to pull off the upset. The total is set at 46.5 points.
Here’s my Utah vs. Wyoming prediction and college football picks for Saturday, September 13.
Utah vs Wyoming Prediction
- Utah vs. Wyoming Pick: Wyoming +23.5
My Wyoming vs. Utah best bet is on the Cowboys to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Utah vs Wyoming Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-23.5 -115 | 46.5 -115o / -105u | -2800 |
| Wyoming Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+23.5 -105 | 46.5 -115o / -105u | +1300 |
- Utah vs Wyoming Spread: Utah -23.5, Wyoming +23.5
- Utah vs Wyoming Over/Under: 46.5 Points
- Utah vs Wyoming Moneyline: Utah -2800, Wyoming +1300
Utah vs Wyoming College Football Betting Preview
Utah Utes Betting Preview: Clicking on All Cylinders
Though most teams have only played two games to this point, you can certainly make the case that few teams have looked better than Utah. The Utes have outscored their opponents, 106-19, and that includes a 33-point thumping at UCLA.
Utah has enjoyed recent success with multiple conference championships and Rose Bowl appearances. However, it has also thrived when under the radar and now enters this week at No. 20 in the AP Top 25.
A pair of New Mexico transfers have sparked the offense in quarterback Devon Dampier and running back NaQuari Rogers.
Dampier is completing about 80% of his passes, averaging 200 passing yards per game with six touchdowns (five passing) and no interceptions.
Rogers leads the team with three rushing touchdowns, while Washington State transfer Wayshawn Parker has rushed for 50 yards and scored a touchdown in each of the first two games.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham mentioned wanting more explosive plays in his Tuesday media session. Parker gave him one with a 52-yard touchdown reception last week.
Wide receiver Tobias Merriweather could provide more this season as well. He has the size and speed to emerge as Dampier's primary deep threat and hauled in a 36-yard reception against UCLA in Week 1.
However, don't be surprised to see Utah creating big plays on defense as well. Utah has seven sacks and three interceptions through the first two games.
Sophomore safety Jackson Bennee is coming off the best game of his career against Cal Poly with five tackles, three passes defended and an interception he took back 46 yards for a touchdown.
Redshirt sophomore John Henry Daley has already notched three sacks to lead the team after entering the season with just one in his career. The Utes have yet to allow 230 total yards in a game this season.
Wyoming Cowboys Betting Preview: Solid Improvement
Wyoming's offense has been solid but not spectacular, averaging 20.5 points and 402.5 yards of total offense per game. It has leaned toward its ground attack, running the ball on 55% of offensive snaps thus far.
Senior Sam Scott may be in for a career year if the first two games are any indication. He ran for 132 yards on 29 attempts in the season-opening win at Akron. With a much lighter workload, he ran for 58 yards and a touchdown against Northern Iowa last week.
Three Cowboys ran for over 50 yards last week, led by Charlotte transfer Terron Kellman, who posted 87 yards on seven carries.
Running room will be hard to come by this week, so Wyoming may have to rely more on its passing game, led by quarterback Kaden Anderson.
The redshirt sophomore has thrown for three touchdowns through the first two weeks, accounting for 60% of the team's offensive touchdowns.
He'll likely be looking for Chris Durr Jr., who's already building on a strong freshman campaign. Durr has a touchdown in each of his first two games and went for 190 yards on eight receptions against Akron.
Defensively, Wyoming has gotten off to a fast start, allowing 199 total yards per game and just one touchdown through its first two games. Seven points is the fewest the Cowboys have allowed through their first two games since 1966.
Wyoming also hasn't allowed 200 passing yards in its last six games dating back to last season, which is the longest active streak in the FBS.
Though typically eating up blocks in Wyoming's 4-3 scheme, nose tackle Ben Florentine has found his name on the stat sheet early and often this season. The senior has a sack in each of the first two games and three straight games dating back to last season. Those also account for the only three sacks of his career.
Utah vs Wyoming Pick, Betting Analysis
Having spent 100 years together as conference rivals, Utah and Wyoming are very familiar with each other.
The programs last met in 2010, with Wyoming's last victory in the series coming in 2006 at home. That was Whittingham's second year at the helm, but it also means he has an idea of how difficult it is to win in Laramie.
This year, his team is playing extremely well thus far, and I expect them to move to 3-0 on Saturday night.
However, -23.5 is tough to lay for a road favorite in Laramie. Wyoming has hosted 11 power conference opponents since 2000 and has won four of those games outright. It has also stayed within 24 points in eight of those 11 games.
Additionally, Utah has Texas Tech next week in a game that could be very significant to the Big 12 Championship race with how both teams are playing thus far.
If Utah can get out of Laramie with a win without showing too much for next week, look for Whittingham to do so.
Pick: Wyoming +23.5 (Play to +21.5)
