College Football ATS Picks - San Jose State at Utah Game Preview

Utah is the much better team and gets this game at home, so there isn’t expected to be a lot of drama when it comes to which team finishes on top. While the Utes are expected to cruise, San Jose State has to be steaming after a 56-0 loss to Texas last time out and will aim to put up more of a fight in this one.

The Utes have crawled into one of the top-25 national rankings and sit just outside on the other, so an impressive performance in this one should continue to gain them acclaim on a national level.

Kickoff for this regular season Week 3 game is set for Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 10 p.m. ET at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
San Jose State +27
Utah -27
Over/Under 58.5

Odds Analysis

Utah is a large favorite but that has not deterred the bettors. The Utes will have to win by four touchdowns to cover and nearly 70 percent of the early money sees that happening, as most are banking on a blowout.

The scoring total is pretty high based on Utah’s defensive excellence and yet the “over” is the more popular choice as few believe San Jose State can put up much resistance defensively.

Player to Watch

Darren Carrington -- The Utah wide receiver is off to a great start this season. He has caught 17 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown in only two games. Carrington had 10 catches for 127 yards and a score in the opener against North Dakota and then added seven catches for 129 yards last time out against Brigham Young.

Carrington was dismissed from the Oregon program for a DUI and transferred to Utah. He has made the most of his second chance and seems to be in line for a big season. San Jose State does not have anyone in its secondary that will be able to stick with him.

Letdown Situation

Utah is coming off an emotional win over their rival, BYU, last time out. After this, the Utes will dive head first into the Pac-12 slate with a road game against the University of Arizona. It’s not out of the question that Utah overlooks San Jose State in this one because it is such a mismatch.

The Utes will likely win no matter what because there is a large talent disparity but if there is a lack of focus, that would be the opening the Spartans need to keep it close.

This game will all come down to how locked in Utah is from start to finish. Even if it jumps out to a strong start, easing off the gas pedal late would also put the spread in doubt.

Free ATS Pick

San Jose State quarterback Montel Aaron has put together a decent start to the season, throwing for 373 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. This is a tough matchup against Utah, and he needs to keep the turnovers down. If Aaron plays well, the Spartans can score enough to help push this scoring total “over” and allow San Jose State to cover the spread.

The Utes have a good team, but they are built to grind out wins, and not necessarily dominate opponents. This one won’t be a legitimate scare, but San Jose State isn’t going to lose by 27. Take the Spartans to cover. Utah won’t mind that much as it will win the game and head into conference play with a 3-0 record.

College Football Odds: Utah 42, San Jose State 17

BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!