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

The Oregon Ducks have not been a dominant team this season, but they haven't needed to be. The Pac-12 is in a down cycle, with USC, Washington, Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona State all struggling to considerable and varying degrees. Even the Utah team Oregon will face on Saturday in Salt Lake City has not enjoyed a brilliant season. The Utes have been the best team in a typically mediocre Pac-12 South. They lost to BYU and San Diego State before finding their footing in early October against USC.

Oregon has done just enough to win most weeks. The Ducks aren't flashy or overwhelming, but they do have a lot of good players, more than any other team in the Pac-12. Kayvon Thibodeaux will be a top-five NFL draft pick. He is a one-man disruptor on defense. One place where the Ducks' depth has really helped is at running back. C.J. Verdell might have made a run at the Heisman had he remained healthy. When he got hurt, Travis Dye has ably filled in. Mario Cristobal's commitment to recruiting has given UO an edge over the competition in the Pac-12. The people who study college football odds know this.

Utah is closing in on a third Pac-12 South title in the past four seasons, the only exception being last year's weird pandemic season, in which the Utes didn't play their first game until the Saturday before Thanksgiving and had no real structure to their offseason preparations. Kyle Whittingham was drifting for a period of a few years in the mid-2010s, but his last four years of work have significantly elevated and changed his position among Pac-12 and national college football coaches. Whittingham has done great work this season to rescue a slumbering September offense and turn it into a high-octane force over the past seven weeks. Utah needed all of its 38 points to fend off Arizona this past Saturday. The Utes scored 28 second-half points to beat Arizona State. They hung 44 on UCLA and scored over 40 against USC as well. Whittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig have done great work with quarterback Cam Rising. Keep this in mind when you think about your Oregon Utah pick.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:

College Football odds: Oregon-Utah Odds

Oregon: +3.5 (-124)

Utah: -3.5 (-102)

Over: 59.5 (-108)

Under: 59.5 (-112)

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Why Oregon Could Cover the Spread

The Ducks get up for the big games under Cristobal. They beat Ohio State on the road without Thibodeaux. They won the 2020 Rose Bowl over Wisconsin. They answer the bell in the really big moments. Oregon often plays down to its competition, but when the lights are bright, this team responds and has earned the benefit of the doubt. Factor that into your Oregon Utah prediction.

Also: Kayvon Thibodeaux is a matchup Utah probably won't be able to handle. Let's leave it at that.

Why Utah Could Cover the Spread

The Utes get Oregon at home, at night, in Salt Lake City. The environment will be electric for a team which has a history of flourishing in big home games. The other big reason to pick Utah is that Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown is not a good downfield passer. If Oregon can't demolish Utah's defensive line and run for 200 yards, the Ducks will need some vertical throws, and Brown is unlikely to deliver them if UO needs them.

Final Oregon-Utah Prediction & Pick

Utah and Oregon will probably meet two weeks from now in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Utah needs one win to wrap up the South. Will that come on Saturday? The Utes are not as strong as the Ducks along the offensive and defensive lines. It will be a close game, but Oregon's bright-lights readiness will win the day.

Final Oregon-Utah Pick: Oregon +3.5