Free College Football Picks Today: Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes 11/26/22

The No. 14 University of Utah Utes (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) and University of Colorado Buffaloes (1-10, 1-7 Pac-12) face off Saturday at Folsom Field for their regular season finales. The Utes are 29.5-point favorites, and the total is 52.Utah is coming off a tight 20-17 loss at the hands of No. 12 Oregon at Autzen Stadium last Saturday.

Cameron Rising threw for 170 yards and three interceptions. Tavion Thomas ran 19 times for 55 yards. Dalton Kincaid caught 11 passes for 99 yards. Colorado dropped a fifth straight game last Saturday, falling 54-7 to No. 15 Washington at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

J.T. Shrout was 6 of 18 for 123 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Alex Fontenot carried 11 times for 71 yards. Montana Lemonious-Craig scored once. He caught one reception for 69 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Utes won the only game between the teams last season, a 28-13 victory in November, their fifth straight win against Colorado. Cameron Rising threw three touchdowns for Utah.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Utes are averaging 37.3 points per game for the season, 16th in FBS, and they are facing a Buffaloes defense that has surrendered 42.8 PPG (131st). Meanwhile, Colorado has scored 14.9 points a game this season, 127th in the country, and Utah is allowing 20.0 PPG (24th).

The Utes rank as one of the nation’s top teams in rushing yards per game (205.3, 18th), while they are 51st in passing yards (244.8). Look for them to exploit a matchup advantage on the ground, as the Buffaloes are worst in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (232.6).

Against the pass, Colorado is 111th (263.4).Colorado has been one of the country’s least successful teams in both passing and rushing yards per game, averaging 177.5 (116th) and 112.6 (112th) yards per game, respectively. The Utes are allowing 213.8 passing yards (50th) and 115.7 rushing yards per game (23rd).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 10 games, Cameron Rising has thrown for 19 touchdowns (7 INT) and 239.5 yards per game to lead Utah in passing. In four away games this season, he has three TDs (6 INT) and an average of 233.2 yards passing. Tavion Thomas leads the team in rushing with an average of 68.7 yards a game over 10 games.

He has seven touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Dalton Kincaid is the Utes’ leading receiver with 74.8 yards a game and seven TDs. J.T. Shrout has seven passing touchdowns (8 INT) with 135.6 yards per game through nine games to lead Colorado. In four home games this season, he has thrown for five TDs (3 INT) and an average of 173.8 yards.

Deion Smith has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 43.3 yards a game through nine games. He has two touchdowns. Jordyn Tyson has been the primary target in the Buffaloes’ passing game. He has four touchdowns and a 58.8 yard per game average through eight appearances.