.jpg "College Football ATS Picks – Utah at BYU")
BYU is coming off a shutout loss to No. 13 LSU and will play No. 9 Wisconsin left. After beating Portland State in the opener, the Cougars would feel pretty good about going 2-2 through four games, but it won’t be easy.
Utah knocked off North Dakota pretty easily in its opener but this will be a different type of test. The Utes must manage a tough environment against an old rival to emerge victorious.
This matchup in Week 2 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 10:15 p.m. ET at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Utah -1
BYU +1
Over/Under 46.5
Odds Analysis
Utah is a slight road favorite and the betting public is backing the Utes at a 63 percent clip to cover. The scoring total has already dropped a half-point and it may go lower at this rate since nearly 87 percent of the wagers are jumping on the “under” in what is expected to be a defensive affair.
Utah is a slight -115 favorite on the moneyline. BYU is -105 to win this game outright.
Player to Watch
Darren Carrington II -- The senior wide receiver transferred from Oregon looking for a fresh start with the Utes. The Ducks dismissed him following a DUI arrest this summer.
After getting cleared to play immediately, the 21-year-old is looking to put the past behind him and end his college career on a high note with Utah. He had a nice debut with the Utes in Week 1, finishing with 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 37-16 win over North Dakota.
Carrington was Oregon’s top target heading into this year and is a nice addition to Utah’s offense. He had accumulated 1,919 yards and 15 touchdowns in three years with the Ducks. There is no questioning his talent, and if Carrington can stay out of trouble he could be in line for a big year. BYU will have trouble slowing him down in this one.
Revenge Angle
The last time BYU beat Utah in this rivalry was back in 2009. That year, the Cougars won in thrilling fashion, with a 25-yard touchdown from quarterback Max Hall to Andrew George in overtime to clinch the 26-23 victory.
But, Utah has been getting the better of BYU ever since. The Utes enter this contest having won six in a row in the Holy War, escaping last year’s contest with a 20-19 victory to keep their current streak alive.
Even though Utah is in the Pac-12 and BYU is a smaller program, these two teams have had a lot of memorable games and this one could join that list. The spread is small and the oddsmakers are forecasting a showdown which could end up going either way.
Free ATS Pick
Utah is the better team, but don’t overreact to BYU’s loss to LSU. The Tigers have a great defense and it was a tough spot for the Cougars. Playing at home in this one is a huge lift for BYU.
While the Utes may come out strong early, watch for BYU to creep back into it and eventually pull out the victory. These teams know each other well and there are going to be a lot of ups and downs in this contest.
Utah will be kicking itself after this one is over for letting a golden chance at a key road win get away.
College Football Odds: BYU 24, Utah 23
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