No. 11 Utah heads into Saturday night’s trip to Colorado looking every bit like a team that has been in control from the start. The Utes are 5-0 and have cashed in against the spread in all five wins, while Colorado has stumbled to a 2-3 record and a 1-4 mark ATS.
The number has moved up to 15.5, but Utah still looks like the side to trust. These teams met last season in a lopsided 53-7 Utah win in Salt Lake City, and the Buffaloes haven’t done much this year to suggest a different outcome is coming in Boulder.
Devon Dampier has been the engine behind Utah’s unbeaten opening. The senior quarterback owns a 19th-best 81.0 QBR, has thrown 12 touchdown passes, and ranks 63rd nationally with 1,134 passing yards. He also brings plenty of production as a runner, and he showed it last week against Kansas by completing 23 of 30 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns with one interception while adding 71 rushing yards and a score on 17 carries.
This will be Dampier’s first crack at Colorado, since he did not play in last year’s rout.
Colorado’s recent results haven’t offered much reason for confidence. The Buffaloes have covered only once this season, at Georgia Tech in Week 1, and as underdogs in their last three games they have lost by 24, 10 and 22 points while catching +3.5, +8.5 and +13.5.
Utah has already handled its one road test, beating Iowa State 31-17, and that’s another reason the Utes look capable of clearing this number again away from home.
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The rest of the schedule is spread across a wide range of outlets, including CBS Sports Network, FS1, USA Network, Peacock and others, which should make for plenty of accessible viewing once the season begins. One of the early marquee dates also stands out on the calendar, with Colorado State set to be part of the broadcast mix in a game that will draw plenty of attention from Colorado fans looking for an early measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Utah Twist That Could Complicate Saturday
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For Colorado, the matchup gets even trickier because Scalley knows Isaac Wilson well from their time together at Utah. That familiarity adds another layer to a game that already asks the Buffaloes to solve one of the nations better defenses while preparing for a coach who knows the personnel, the system and the quarterback hes now trying to stop. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Defense Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Against Unbeaten Utah
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For Colorado, the task is less about simply slowing Utah down than finding a way to disrupt the rhythm before it gets established. Santana Hopper will be central to that effort, and the Buffs could use another key presence if the defense is at full strength. Lamont Lester Jr. is still in question, leaving a bit of uncertainty on the back end as Colorado prepares for an 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff on ESPN in what feels like its biggest defensive test of the season. [Read more 🡒]