Free College Football Picks Today: Utah Utes vs Stanford Cardinal 11/12/22

The Stanford University Cardinal (3-6, 1-6 Pac-12) travel to face the No. 13 University of Utah Utes (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12) at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday for a matchup that pits one of the Pac-12 Conference’s toughest rush defenses against one of its top ground offenses.

The Utes are 24-point favorites, and the total is 53.5. Stanford is coming off a tough 52-14 loss at the hands of Washington State at Stanford Stadium last Saturday. Tanner McKee was 23 of 40 for 236 yards. Mitch Leigber ran 11 times for 23 yards. He added three receptions for 32 yards.

Benjamin Yurosek caught eight passes for 90 yards. Utah won for the third straight game last Saturday, beating Arizona 45-20 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Cameron Rising threw for 151 yards and a touchdown. Ja’Quinden Jackson carried 13 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Devaughn Vele had five receptions for 57 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Utes won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 52-7 victory in November. Tavion Thomas had four touchdowns for Utah.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Cardinal are averaging 22.6 points per game for the season, 104th in FBS, and they are facing a Utes defense that has surrendered 21.4 PPG (31st). Meanwhile, Utah has scored 39.0 points a game this season, 12th in the country, and Stanford is allowing 31.3 PPG (109th).

The Cardinal rank 48th in the country in passing yards per game (256.3) and 105th in rushing (120.4), while the Utes are 42nd in passing yards allowed per game (212.2) and 46th against the run (132.4). Utah is 51st in the nation in passing yards per game (254.2) and 24th in rushing (202.6).

Stanford’s defense has been most beatable on the ground, as the Cardinal are 124th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (215.9). Against the pass, the Cardinal are 40th (212.0).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through nine games, Tanner McKee has thrown for 11 touchdowns (7 INT) and 245.3 yards per game to lead Stanford in passing. In four away games this season, he has six TDs (2 INT) and an average of 213.8 yards passing. Casey Filkins leads the team in rushing with an average of 68.3 yards a game over seven games. He has four touchdowns on the ground and three through the air.

Elijah Higgins is the Cardinal’s leading receiver with 50.3 yards a game and one TD. Cameron Rising has 16 passing touchdowns (3 INT) with 250.8 yards per game through eight games to lead Utah. In five home games this season, he has thrown for 13 TDs and an average of 248.6 yards.

Tavion Thomas has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 56.5 yards a game through eight games. He has five touchdowns. Dalton Kincaid has been a key target in the Utes’ aerial attack. He has seven touchdowns and a 76.8 yard per game average through eight appearances.