Utah heads to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State in a marquee Big 12 opener, featuring two top contenders for the conference title. This anticipated showdown marks Utah’s first official Big 12 game.
Before that, see which side has the biggest advantage, and get an update on Cam Rising, in our Utah vs. Oklahoma State prediction.
Utah vs. Oklahoma State Betting Preview
All Utah vs. Oklahoma State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, September 21, 2024.
- Spread
Utah -1 - Moneyline
Utah -112, Oklahoma State -108 - Over/Under
53.5 points - Game time
4 p.m. ET - Location
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK - Predicted Weather at Kick
89 degrees, 7 MPH winds, sunshine, and a few clouds - How to Watch
FOX
How important is quarterback Cam Rising to Utah? Well, Oklahoma State opened the week as a three-point favorite over their rival for the Big 12 title. With Rising looking set to return after missing the Utes’ Week 3 win over Utah State, there was a 5.5-point swing toward the former Pac-12 protagonist.
This number then jumped back, closer to where it sits now at Utah -1, when rumblings of Rising’s status remaining in jeopardy. This is essentially a pick-em at this point, banking on how you feel about the status of this rosters independently of Rising.
Prediction for Utah vs. Oklahoma State
The anticipation for this matchup began months ago. With Utah’s Big 12 arrival, it is surprisingly similar from a stylistic perspective but different enough to bring more intrigue to this battle with the Pokes.
Both Mike Gundy and Kyle Whittingham are mainstays at their respective programs, and both men are some of the longest-tenured head coaches at one school in Division I. Gundy is an offensive savant, while Whittingham has focused on tough, hard-nosed defensive football.
Both teams lean on a star player to lead their offense, but there’s plenty of talent around them to share the load.
Oklahoma State’s Heisman hopeful, Gordon, has had a slow start, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry with four touchdowns. As defenses focus on stopping him, the Cowboys’ passing game has flourished.
Alan Bowman lit up Tulsa with 396 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball to a talented trio of receivers—Stribling, Presley, and Rashod Owens—who have combined for over 10 catches each and six total receiving touchdowns.
But Bowman and Co. will face a tough challenge against Utah’s relentless pass rush, which has 10 sacks in three games, led by senior defensive end Van Fillinger, who has 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.
For Utah, all eyes are on the return of quarterback Rising, who missed the majority of last week’s game with a finger injury. Before that, Rising was stellar, throwing seven touchdown passes on just 29 attempts and averaging 7.6 yards per carry.
Utah’s ground game, led by Micah Bernard with 274 rushing yards and 6.6 yards per carry, will be key. He, along with Mike Mitchell and Dijon Stanley, will face arguably the toughest challenge on their schedule in Oklahoma State’s strong defensive unit.
Utah’s offense has also relied on Bernard to carry the ball, with the senior running back toting the rock for 274 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per rush, and scoring a touchdown on the ground.
Bernard and his backfield mates Mike Mitchell and Dijon Stanley will have to deal with safety Trey Rucker and linebacker Nick Martin. The two leading tacklers for the Cowboys have buoyed a defense that is allowing just 20.3 points per game.
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Utah may have the edge defensively in this one, but the Utes secondary looked out of sorts at times, and with injuries to Karene Reid and Kenan Johnson, it may be tough to keep up with the Cowboys passing attack.
For the Cowboys defensively, it will be all about pressuring Rising early and often to try and keep him from developing any kind of rhythm.
Oklahoma State is +3 in the turnover margin as well, a stat to watch in this game.
Prediction: Utah 34, Oklahoma State 31
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