ESPN's SP+ predicts the score of Utah's game against Stanford
Utah has what looks on the surface to be a tune-up ahead of its trip to Autzen Stadium next weekend.
The 13th-ranked Utes are a 24-point favorite over Stanford. They’re expected to roll. And Bill Connelly’s SP+ thinks they will.
The predictive model picked Utah to win 43-17. SP+ gave coach Kyle Whittingham’s group a 93% chance of picking up their eighth win on the season.
The Utes (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12) host a struggling Stanford team at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday night for Senior Night. Tight end Dalton Kincaid said earlier this week he’s going to do everything he can to play his final home game. Quarterback Cameron Rising returned in last week’s win over Arizona. The running back room went four-deep, and though two left the game banged up, Whittingham didn’t seem too concerned about the outlook going forward.
The Utes’ 39-points-per-game offense should be clicking, and it’ll be facing one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12. Stanford (3-6, 1-6 Pac-12) has lost back-to-back games after appearing to find some momentum in the middle of the season. The Cardinal has been outscored 90-27 in those two games.
On the season, the Stanford defense is giving up more than 31 points a game. That mark is only better than Arizona and Colorado, and there’s a 41-10 win over Colgate helping to bolster the résumé.
Stanford has had the misfortune of facing all five of the Pac-12’s ranked teams, with Utah serving as Game 5. Against the other four (USC, Washington, Oregon, UCLA), Stanford has given up 41 points a game and hasn’t been in a competitive affair past halftime.
The Utes will look to have similar success. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on ESPN.