The Colorado Buffaloes are set to face the Utah Utes this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Colorado-Utah prediction, odds, and pick.

The Utah Utes have a date with destiny, but first, they need to handle Colorado. Utah just thrashed the Oregon Ducks, delivering a 38-7 blowout in a game they led 28-0 at halftime. The Utes played their best game of the season against the Pac-12's preseason favorite. They humbled an Oregon team which soundly defeated Ohio State on the road in Columbus this past September. Utah knocked Oregon out of the College Football Playoff, ruining the Pac-12's hopes of putting a team in the four-school showcase, but the Utes didn't care. They clinched the Pac-12 South Division championship and advanced to the Pac-12 Championship Game for the third time in four seasons. The only time in the past four years they haven't played for the Pac-12 title was last year's weird pandemic season. Utah has clearly been the best program in the Pac-12 South since 2018. People who follow the college football odds and are evaluating a Colorado Utah pick are aware of this.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham lost the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2018 to Washington and in 2019 to Oregon and Mario Cristobal. He and the Utes will wait to see which team they will face on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas. If Oregon beats Oregon State, it will be Oregon. If Oregon State beats UO, the Beavers or the Washington State Cougars will be Utah's opponent one week from now. Oregon State needs a Washington State loss to Washington in the Apple Cup to advance. If Oregon State beats Oregon and Washington State wins its rivalry game, Wazzu goes to the big show for a very improbable Pac-12 title date with Utah.

The Utes are surely excited about the chance to play for a conference title and a first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl. First, though, they don't want to stumble against a Rocky Mountain competitor with hopes of an upset.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:

College Football odds: Colorado-Utah Odds

Colorado: +23.5 (-105)

Utah: -23.5 (-115)

Over: 51.5 (-115)

Under: 51.5 (-105)

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Why Colorado Could Cover the Spread

The Buffaloes are certainly playing better right now. They recently defeated Oregon State, which still has an outside chance of making the Pac-12 Championship Game, and Washington, a team which has hugely disappointed but still had what was widely regarded as solid talent before this 2021 Pac-12 season began. Colorado has developed a backbone, showing resilience and other intangible qualities which simply didn't exist in September or early October. This has not been a successful season for CU and head coach Karl Dorrell, but as you think about a Colorado Utah prediction, it is worth keeping in mind that the Buffs have made forward strides and will enter the offseason with some legitimate building blocks.

Why Utah Could Cover the Spread

The Utes are a good team playing well. Their offense is in a groove, fueled by quarterback Cam Rising, who filled in for Charlie Brewer a few weeks into the season and hasn't looked back. The defense just held Oregon to seven points. The special teams unit just produced a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown to end the first half of the Oregon game. Everything is clicking for the Utes, who are playing a grossly inferior opponent. Don't overthink this.

Final Colorado-Utah Prediction & Pick

Again: Don't overthink this. Utah is far better, and the Utes are playing their best ball of the season at just the right time. They will roll on Senior Day in front of an amped-up home crowd in Salt Lake City.

Final Colorado-Utah Pick: Utah -23.5