[7:40 PM] #22 Utah @ #9 Colorado

What will be the GAME RESULT?

#22 Utah: Wins or Single Digit Loss

@ #9 Colorado: Wins By Double Digits

 

• The line for this game is Colorado by 10 points.

• Each of the five Pac-12 meetings between Utah and Colorado have been decided by one possession. And it’s expected to be no different Saturday night when the ninth-ranked Buffaloes host the 20th-ranked Utes with the Pac-12 South Division title on the line.

• The Utes would’ve also been in the thick of the South title talk this week, but last Saturday’s last-second upset loss to visiting Oregon knocked Utah out of the running. The Utes, though, feature the Pac-12’s second-best rushing attack (213.4 yards per game) behind senior running back Joe Williams who has rolled up 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns in five games since “un-retiring” in mid-October. Defensively, the Utes are allowing 23.6 points and 387.3 yards per game and are led by likely conference defensive player of the year Hunter Dimick, a havoc-wreaking senior end who leads the Pac-12 in sacks (14) and tackles for loss (19.5).

• The Buffaloes have won five straight games, which is the program’s longest winning streak since 2002, and are 5-0 at home for the first time since 1994 – their last perfect season at Folsom Field. A good deal of the credit belongs to senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, who last Saturday threw for 345 yards and rushed for a career-high 108 yards and three TDs in a 38-24 win over visiting Washington State to earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week is Colorado reserve safety Nick Fisher, who had six solo tackles, including four on third or fourth down, and one pass defensed last week for a unit which leads the conference in total defense (322.4 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (190.4 yards).

• Utah has won four straight and four of five in the series with Colorado, including a 20-14 home victory a season ago, since the programs entered the Pac-12 in 2011.

• The Buffaloes’ win over then-No. 20 Washington State last week snapped the program’s 23-game losing streak against ranked foes.

• Both teams rank in the top 15 nationally in turnover margin with Utah a plus-9 and Colorado a plus-8.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: #22Utah: Wins or Single Digit Loss

Confidence: 5/10

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