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Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

NCAAF Top 25 futures: Utah is just always pretty good

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 8/1/23

The Utes have won 10 games in each of the last two seasons and finished them both in the Rose Bowl. They lost the game both times, but this is one of the most consistently good programs in America. If you take out the COVID year they have not won fewer than seven games since 2013.

Looking ahead to this season, Utah is one of the reasons there is going to be a lot of competition in the Pac-12 this season — they are expected to be the fourth-best team but still top-20 worthy. They do not always stack up when it comes to the recruiting rankings but when you give head coach Kyle Whittingham some players he never disappoints. Utah is great at player development.

No. 15 Utah Utes 2023 Win Total

Over 8.5 +120 / Under 8.5 -140

The pricing on these lines is saying that the Utes are expected to have a down season, especially compared to recent performances. It is kind of surprising given how much continuity they have at the most critical positions — head coach and quarterback. Taking that over has a nice payoff and the Utes have won 10-plus games in each of their last three seasons so it is a little hard to compute. They would have covered this total in seven of the last eight full seasons I believe. Lots of money has been lost underrating the Utes.

The reason expectations are lower for the Utes this season is a very tough schedule. Utah actually plays two Power 5 opponents to start the year, hosting Florida and visiting Baylor. They can beat those teams but neither are gimmes, that's for sure. Once they start Pac-12 play they play all three of the other elite teams — USC, Washington, and Oregon — and those first two opponents are on the road. In fact, their whole road slate is full of potential losses. I love the Utah story, but even if they are really good this season they are going to be challenged.

Cam Rising might not be a great pro prospect but the senior is on everyone's list of the top QBs in the country — he makes very few mistakes. The Utes just need to find some new top weapons for him to work with, but they usually work that out so I am not worried that much about the offense. The strength of the team is going to be in the trenches, especially on defense, where they might have the best defensive line outside of the SEC. They can match the 21 ppg they allowed last season and that will have them in every ball game.

Utah is always going to compete, it is just in their DNA. I hate to discount them but it is a tough road they have ahead of them this year and 8-4 might actually be a really good year (especially when you look at who they lose to). That does take them under though. Even though I want to grab that +120.

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