TCU vs Utah Prediction, Pick & Odds for Saturday Night College Football

•  We’ve made our TCU vs Utah prediction for Saturday night CFB
• The Utes are favored at home despite losing QB Cam Rising to injury
•  Read below for TCU vs Utah odds, prediction and best bets

The TCU Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2) hit the road to take on the Utah Utes (4-2, 1-2) at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on ESPN.

The Utes enter as 3.5-point favorites despite losing QB Cam Rising due to injury. The Horned Frogs are intriguing road underdogs, with the over/under set at 49.5 points.

Here is our TCU vs Utah prediction, along with betting odds for Saturday Night College Football.

TCU vs Utah Odds

The Utah Utes are favored by 3.5 points, with an implied probability of 64.3% to win the game outright. The underdog TCU Horned Frogs have a moneyline of +162, indicating a 38.2% chance of pulling off the upset.

The odds are set this way due to Utah’s home-field advantage and elite defense, despite recent struggles. The over/under line of 49.5 points suggests a moderate-scoring game, considering both teams’ offensive capabilities and defensive vulnerabilities.

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Odds as of Oct. 19, 2024. Unlock the Fanatics promo code to place a bet on TCU vs Utah.

Horned Frogs Betting Analysis

TCU’s offense is led by sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover, has been a bright spot for the Frogs. Hoover has already passed for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, with his favorite target being wide receiver Jack Bech.

The standout receiver leads the team with 39 receptions for 702 yards and seven scores. He’s a huge reason the Frogs are averaging 35.3 points per game, second-best in the Big 12.

Jack Bech has been named a Midseason All-American by the Senior Bowl, college football's premier All-Star Game‼️#GoFrogs | #BleedPurple pic.twitter.com/tso0d6cHXE

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) October 10, 2024

However, the Horned Frogs’ defense has been their Achilles’ heel, allowing an average of 335.7 yards per game. They rank 96th in Havoc and outside the top 100 in Quality Drives Allowed.

TCU is coming off a bye week. The last time they played, they incurred a disappointing 30-19 home loss to Houston. This was a team that entered the game with one of the worst offenses in the Power 4.

To pull off the upset, TCU will need Hoover and the offense to exploit a Utah secondary that has allowed 15 plays of 20+ yards to conference opponents. The Frogs’ defense, which ranks 22nd in PFF Tackling and 40th in PFF Coverage, must step up and limit Utah’s run game, forcing freshman QB Isaac Wilson to beat them through the air.

Utes Betting Analysis

Utah’s season took a significant hit with the loss of star quarterback Cam Rising, who is out for the season with a leg injury. His backup? A brother of a former New York Jets quarterback.

Freshman Isaac Wilson takes over the starting role, having thrown for 830 yards, six TDs, and seven interceptions in limited action. The Utes’ offense ranks 105th in Pass Success Rate and 114th in Finishing Drives, showing they struggle to move the ball and score points consistently.

Ready to watch Isaac Wilson lead my team today 💪 pic.twitter.com/bgbadldclo

— Tyrell (@iiTz_Tyrell) October 19, 2024

The Utes’ defense, however, has been elite in nearly every metric except tackling. They rank in the top 20 in Rush Success Rate Allowed, Finishing Drives Allowed, and Pass Success Rate Allowed. The defensive unit’s strong coverage grading and ability to generate Havoc could cause problems for TCU’s pass-heavy offense.

To cover the spread, Utah will need to rely on their ground game. Micah Bernard leads this unit, rushing for 676 yards and 6.6 average yards per carry. The Utes’ offensive line excels in run blocking, ranking third nationally, which could exploit TCU’s 80th-ranked run defense.

TCU vs Utah Prediction

While Utah boasts a strong defense and home-field advantage, the loss of Cam Rising is a significant blow to their offense. TCU’s high-powered passing game, led by Hoover and Bech, should take advantage of Utah’s vulnerable secondary.

My official Saturday night CFB prediction is for TCU to cover the 3.5-point spread. The Frogs’ offense should be able to move the ball effectively against Utah’s defense. Meanwhile, the Frogs’ defense should limit the Utes’ one-dimensional offense.

Look for TCU’s passing game to be the difference-maker in this matchup, propelling them to a close victory and a cover. Utah is only 2-4 ATS in their last six home games, and I predict that trend will continue tonight.

Saturday Night CFB Pick:

• TCU +3.5 (-110)