CFB Futures – 2024 Utah Utes Win Total Odds

There is a lot of pressure on the Utah Utes as they begin their first season in the Big 12 Conference. A force in the Pac-12 over the last several seasons, the Utes instantly became a team to beat in their new surroundings. There was a drop last year when Utah won just eight games. I say ‘just’ because in the previous four full seasons they won at least nine regular season games reaching double figures three times. There is plenty of reason for optimism heading into 2024 with several major contributors back after missing some or all of last season. The biggest is Cameron Rising, who led the Utes to 10 wins in 2022 but didn’t play due to injury a season ago.

Regular Season Wins for the Utah Utes

Over 9.5 ( -170 )

Under 9.5 ( +138 )

With some key players back and a move to a new conference, the Utes saw their win total rise one full game from where it was this time last year at BetMGM. Utah cashed the UNDER on their 2023 CFB futures bet but odds favor them going OVER with that juiced to -170. And the Utes are in a good position to win double digit games again, something they’ve accomplished seven times under Kyle Whittingham, who is the programs all-time leader in coaching victories.

Reduced juice betting is one of the best ways for any sports bettor to save money and far too many people don’t take advantage of it. If you are not playing at a sportsbook that offers reduced juice betting then you are simply giving away money.

Bet on College Football at BetMGM 

Roster

With a quick peek at the results from last season you might assume the Utes weren’t as good as they’ve been in previous years. That would be a fair assessment, but you also need to know they played a loaded Pac-12 schedule without some of their top offensive players. We’ll never know if the Utes would have beaten Oregon, Washington and Arizona, but those games likely would’ve been much closer. And with a QB, running back and next-level tight end back in the fold the offense will be much better.

A horrific knee injury in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2022 season put Rising on the shelf all of last year. He’s fully recovered and ready to lift an offense that was next to last in the Pac-12 in yards per game and 10th in scoring. As the team’s starter in 2021 and 2022, Rising completed almost 64 percent of his passes for 5,527 yards and 46 touchdowns. The balance should be there with Micah Bernard returning to the backfield. Shelved by an injury two games into last season, he had rushed for more than 1,000 yards combined in the previous two seasons. 

The Utes averaged less than 175 yards through the air last season to rank 116th nationally. That part of the game will improve with Brant Kuithe back from injury. He had 19 receptions and three TDs in only three games last year. Money Parks and transfer Dorian Singer give Rising two receiving threats. Singer had a big 2022 season with Arizona catching 66 passes for over 1,100 yards and six TDs.

A good chunk of the pieces that formed the nation’s 13th ranked total defense in 2023 is back to make life miserable for opposing offenses. The Utes allowed just 307.2 yards per game and they were fourth-best against run allowing less than 85 rushing yards a game. Three starters along the front line return to form a brick wall. The unit also was stingy giving up points allowing fewer than 20 per game to rank among the top 20 in the country. Going against some of the top QBs in the country in the Pac-12 last season, the pass defense was a little shaky. But overall the group was solid and could be better if the interception total increases from four.

Schedule

Other than their Week 4 date with Oklahoma State, there really isn’t a game on the schedule that you can say the Utes have a chance to lose. Of course, there’s a chance they lose all of them, but that ain’t happening. The Utes bypass some of the other contenders like Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech giving them a smooth path to the Big 12 title game and a possible berth in the expanded CFP field. Non-conference games with Southern Utah and Utah State should be Ws and two of their biggest league games – home to Arizona State in Week 7 and BYU in Week 11 come after a bye.

Prediction

Utah won eight regular season games last year and this squad appears to be better with the returning talent that was sorely missed in 2023. There’s no guarantee injuries will not happen again and that’s always something teams have to deal with. However, an improved offense with Rising back at the helm, a stacked defense and a more than manageable schedule should have the Utes cashing the OVER on this CFB futures bet.

Bet the Utah win total at BetMGM