2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: Utah Utes Stats & Odds
The 2024 Utah Utes Season Odds Have Utah As a Top Contender in the Big 12 Race
Return of Quarterback Rising Should Help Struggling Offense
Things didn’t go as well as expected for Utah in its last college football season in the Pac-12, as the Utes were 0-3 against ranked teams, and they faded in the Pac-12 race. Now, the Utes are looking to make some noise in the Big 12.
When looking at the 2024 Utah Utes season odds, Utah has some work to do after going 3-4-1 against the spread after wins a season ago.
Utah was 4-3 ATS at home (4-2 as a home favorite) but just 2-2 as a road underdog. Utah ranked near the bottom of the Pac-12 with just five games in 2023 landing over the total.
When looking at the NCAAF team stats, Utah was just 94th in total offense in 2023. That will need to change for the Utes to become a factor in the Big 12.
Utah is the current co-favorite, along with Kansas State at +330 to win the Big 12 title. The Utes have the shortest odds among the Big 12 teams to reach the College Football Playoff.
Utah Utes At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| Championship | +6600 | +6000 |
| Conference | +350 | +330 |
| Regular Season Win Total | 9.5 (o-125, u -105) | 9.5 (o-125, u -105) |
| To Make Playoffs | Yes +275, No -350 | Yes +275, No -350 |
Rising Back to Get More Passing Grades
The return of quarterback Cameron Rising after an NCAAF injury kept him out of the 2023 season will be a massive boost for the Utes. He led Utah to a pair of Pac-12 titles in his last two seasons on the field for the Utes.
The Utes were hurt by some transfers, especially on offense. Leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson is now at Arkansas reserve quarterback Nate Johnson landed at Vanderbilt and receiver Mikey Matthews transferred to Cal. That could impact the 2024 Utah Utes season odds.
UCLA tight end Carsen Ryan, Southern California receiver Dorian Singer, and Washington receiver Taeshaun Lyons will give Rising some pass catchers to work with.
The defense will miss all-conference defensive lineman Jonah Ellis and safety Sione Vaki. Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna will anchor the defense.
Utah was outside the top 30 in the NCAAF ranking of the top groups of incoming transfers. Utah’s incoming freshman class is ranked 59th by the 247sports.com database.
Offensive tackle Isaiah Garcia and quarterback Isaac Wilson are among the in-state recruits to sign with the Utes. Five of Utah’s top 10 incoming freshmen headed to play for Kyle Whittingham at Utah.
Championship Odds: Can the Utes Win the Revamped Big 12?
Things are wide open in the Big 12 with Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC.
When looking at the 2024 Utah Utes season odds, the Utes are among the group of Pac-12 teams that headed to the Big 12 after the dissolution of the Pac-12.
Seven Big 12 teams have better recruiting classes than the Utes and time will tell if the Utes have enough incoming talent to make a run at the Big 12 title.
Utah should have little problem with Southern Utah in its 2024 season opener. Utah beat Southern Utah 73-7 a season ago with the Utes winning by at least 20 points in the last seven meetings against Football Championship Subdivision programs.
The first Big 12 matchup will come against Baylor on Sept. 7. The NCAA football odds should have Utah as the home favorite in that matchup.
Conference Odds: The Two Favorites Aren’t Scheduled to Meet
Kansas State and Utah are the favorites to win the Big 12. However, they will not be squaring off during the regular season with Utah’s conference schedule loaded with matchups against some of the other teams moving from the Pac-12 to the Big 12.
It shouldn’t take long to see if the Utes are pretenders or contenders with NCAAF matchups against Oklahoma State and Arizona in the final two games in September. A showdown with TCU on Oct. 19 could be another tough test for the Utes.
The regular season wraps up with a home game against Iowa State and a trip to face UCF. It won’t be a surprise to see the NCAA football odds listing Utah as the favorite in both of those games.
Regular Season Wins: Another Double-Digit Season In Sight
Utah came up two wins shy of a third straight season with at least 10 wins during the regular season.
Jumping into a new conference leaves more questions than answers with Utah meeting up with unfamiliar opponents.
If the recent history counts for anything, it is dangerous to undervalue the Utes with Whittingham calling the shots.
To Make Playoffs: Utah Eyeing First CFP Berth
The postseason has not been kind to Utah in recent years with the Utes losing their last five NCAAF bowl games and that included back-to-back losses in the Rose Bowl as the Pac-12 champion.
The new 12-team format has the champion from the five highest rated conferences getting spots in the College Football Playoff field.
At first glance, the Big 12 appears to be lagging behind the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC. However, it should be one of the top five conferences.
Winning the Big 12 is a definite possibility for Utah and if that happens, the Utes will be among the 12 teams playing in the College Football Playoffs. Utah was left out of the CFP as Pac-12 champions following the 2021 and 2022 seasons. With the expansion of the CFP, that won’t happen again if the Utes win the Big 12.
Side Bets
Rising is tied for 14th at +3500 in the odds of winning the Heisman Trophy and he could attract some early money based on his previous success at Utah.
Former conference rivals Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. went from putting up gaudy stats to becoming first-round draft picks.
Rising is well back in the odds of being the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft but take a look back at where Nix and Penix were in the NFL Draft odds at this time last year.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
