Utah vs. Washington 2023 College Football Week 11 Odds, Preview & Pick

By Hank Blaine • November 9, 2023

No. 5 Washington can move a step closer to a spot in the Pac-12 title game with a victory over visiting No. 18 Utah on Saturday – the Utes are two-time defending Pac-12 champs but will not get back there with a loss. It’s likely the last meeting between the schools for a long while with UW to the Big Ten and Utah to the Big 12.

Utah Utes vs. Washington Huskies Game Information

Dream on … 9-0 ☔️#USvsUS pic.twitter.com/FYdmLBUCCt
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 7, 2023

When: Saturday, November 11, 2023, 3:30 PM ET
Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
TV: FOX
Radio: ESPN 92.1 FM (Utah) // SportsRadio 950 KJR (Washington)
Live Stream: FOX Sports
College Football Odds: Utah (+9.5) // Washington (-9.5)

Why Bet on the Utah Utes?

Through nine games, Utah is one of four teams in the FBS that rank in the top-10 in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense (Penn State, Michigan, Air Force). The Utes have only committed six turnovers this season, which ranks fifth in the FBS and second in the Pac-12. Utah leads the FBS in time of possession this season, holding the ball for 34:19 per game. It is holding opponents to 282.3 yards per game, which ranks first in the Pac-12 (9th in FBS).

Utah’s 55 points in its win over Arizona State last week was the most since scoring 63 at Colorado in 2022 with the 52-point margin of victory counting as the largest for the Utes in a Pac-12 game. It was also the fifth time since offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig’s return in 2019 that Utah has eclipsed the 50-point mark in a game. The Utes also put up 513 yards of total offense against Arizona State, the most since its 533 yards vs. USC in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship game and the 13th time since 2019 that Utah has had 500+ yards in a game.

Bryson Barnes has taken over as the clear No. 1 QB. He has thrown for seven of his eight touchdowns this season in two of the last three games, throwing three in Utah’s win at No. 18 USC and a career-high four touchdown passes against Arizona State. His four touchdowns against Arizona State tied for 10th all-time at Utah for single-game TD passes, also tying for the most by a Utah QB in the Whittingham era. He also has 184 rushing yards.

Backup QB Nate Johnson, a redshirt freshman, has only played in 10 games at Utah, but has amassed 10 total touchdowns (6 rush, 4 pass) during his time with the Utes. He has played in six games this season. Johnson leads the Utes this season in explosive plays, racking up 11 plays of 20 yards or longer (8 pass, 3 rush).

Why Bet on the Washington Huskies?

Washington has the simplest path of any Pac-12 title contender and is on track to reach the conference championship. The Huskies just have to avoid any major hiccups and win two of their final three games. They can even afford one loss and still reach the conference championship game thanks to their victory over Oregon and also hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over USC. Utah essentially has to win out. It currently wins a tiebreaker vs. UCLA and USC and loses one to Oregon and Oregon State.

Let’s start with the injury report for this one. Utes top RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has been banged up for much of the year, and at the tail end of a 54-yard touchdown run last week in a blowout of Arizona State was tackled awkwardly and tweaked his sprained ankle. He’s questionable and leads the team with 619 all-purpose yards, 598 of those on the ground. With Jackson banged up, and both Micah Bernard and Chris Curry out for the season, some have wondered when the Utes’ trio of highly-regarded freshman running backs would get thrown into the fire. Dijon Stanley saw some action last Saturday but only got six carries.

Injured junior wide receiver Jalen McMillan remains questionable for Saturday’s game for Washington, while senior free safety Asa Turner has been ruled out. Also, sophomore offensive guard Geirean Hatchett missed the Huskies’ 52-42 victory over USC last Saturday with an ankle injury and his playing status is uncertain.

Washington was a 51-41 winner at USC last week as QB Michael Penix Jr. got one step closer to winning the Heisman Trophy. Washington is 20-2 overall under head coach Kalen DeBoer and 9-0 this season for just the fourth time in school history. The Huskies lead the nation in passing offense and are No. 4 in total offense.

Over just 22 games as a Husky, Michael Penix Jr. has notched five of the top-10 single-game passing yards marks in UW history, including his first three games this season. In less than two seasons, Penix is up to third in UW history in career TD passes, with 57. He has thrown multiple TDs in 17 of his 22 games at UW. His 7,842 career yards rank him 4th at UW. This year, Penix is No. 1 in FBS passing yards and pass yards per game, No. 2 in total offense, No. 3 in pass TDs and No. 7 in pass efficiency nationally.

Washington has notched 63 scrimmage plays of 20 or more yards over its first nine games, the fourth-highest total in the nation. UW is also No. 5 in the nation with 31 plays of 30 yards or more. Those totals include 51 passes of 20 or more yards, and 23 of 30 or more from Penix Jr. Those totals are No. 2 and 3 in the nation. Penix also leads the FBS with 127 completions of 10 yards or more, 17 more than the next closest QB.

UW enters the week with the nation’s second-longest active winning streak among FBS teams, with 16 victories in a row. Only Georgia, with a 26-game run, has a longer active streak.

Washington is 13-2 all-time vs. Utah, but the teams haven’t played since 2020 as they had been in separate Pac-12 divisions – those are gone now.

Utah vs. Washington Betting Trends

Utah is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.
Utes are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games.
The total went under in 6 of Utah’s last 9 games.
Washington is 9-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in November.
Huskies are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games.
The total went over in 4 of Washington’s last 6 games.

Utah vs. Washington Expert Betting Predictions

Washington 37, Utah 30.

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