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Utah vs. Oregon Football Prediction & Picks: Can the Ducks win without Nix?
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Updated:
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Utah and Oregon may be all but out of the running for a spot in this season’s College Football Playoff, but both the Utes and Ducks still have plenty to play for as they prepare for Saturday night’s showdown at Autzen Stadium.
After both going 10-4 in 2021, Utah and Oregon entered this college football season with CFP aspirations. And both teams saw those aspirations take a major hit with a season-opening loss to an SEC East team.
The Ducks had recovered from their blowout loss to Georgia to position themselves favorably in the CFP rankings, but last Saturday’s home loss to Washington means that wins over Utah, Oregon State, and whoever their opponent may be in the Pac-12 title game likely won’t be enough to land in the top four barring a real miracle.
Even though Utah is ranked 10th in this week’s CFP rankings, they are also in need of a miracle thanks to last month’s loss at UCLA. The Utes have won four straight games since, but wins at Oregon, at Colorado, and in the Pac-12 title game likely won’t pad their resume enough unless pure chaos ensues.
That said, the Utes have a Pac-12 title that they will want to defend, and the Ducks have some revenge to dish out after taking it on the chin twice last season.
Should revenge be the order of the day for your Utah vs Oregon picks? Find out below.
Utah Utes vs Oregon Ducks Matchup Information and Betting Odds
Matchup Information
- Matchup: #10 Utah Utes (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12, 3rd in the Pac-12) vs #12 Oregon Ducks (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12, 2nd in the Pac-12)
- Venue & Location: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, Oregon)
- Date: Saturday, November 19, 2022
- Game Time: 10:30 pm ET (7:30 pm local time)
- How to Watch Utah vs Oregon: ESPN
Utah vs Oregon Odds
Game odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 1:20 am ET. Odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites may also be mentioned in this article.
Spread
- Utah -1.5 (-105)
- Oregon +1.5 (-115)
Over/Under
- Over 61.5 (-110)
- Under 61.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Utah -118
- Oregon -102
Will Banged Up Nix Be Able to Go Against the Utes?
Oregon QB Bo Nix laid it all on the line in the 37-34 loss, as he went 19 for 27 for 280 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards on nine attempts.
The Auburn transfer took a hit to the leg in the fourth quarter, but even though he was able to finish the game, his availability for Utah’s visit to Autzen is unclear.
If he is unable to play, backup Ty Thompson, a redshirt freshman, is the next man up.
Utah is tied for 16th in the country in sacks (29) and has picked off ten passes this season, which puts them just outside the top 30 in the country. So, potentially being without Nix is not ideal for Oregon.
But I don’t see Nix’s status as the decisive factor for my Utah vs Oregon prediction, and you shouldn’t either.
The run is a big part of Oregon’s game, as the Ducks are ninth in the country in rushing yards per game (239.3) and fourth in yards per attempt (5.9).
Nix is a big part of that, as he has run for 516 yards. But running backs Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington both went over the 100-yard mark against Washington and can do plenty of damage against Utah, who allows 4.2 rushing yards per attempt.
Nix’s success as a passer and runner have been big, but Irving and Whittington have more than done their share as well.
2022 Statistics for Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington
Bucky Irving
- Rushing: 119 attempts, 831 yards (7.0 yards per attempt), 2 TD
- Receiving: 22 catches, 241 yards (11.0 yards per catch), 3 TD
- Passing: 2 for 2, 36 yards, TD
Noah Whittington
- Rushing: 102 attempts, 620 yards (6.1 yards per attempt), 4 TD
- Receiving: 15 catches, 122 yards (8.1 yards per catch), TD
Irving has caught three or more passes five times this season, while Whittington logged five catches in back-to-back games against Cal and Colorado.
While Nix would certainly be missed, if he is out, Irving and Whittington would stand to benefit in one way. Nix has more scored touchdowns himself (15) than the two of them combined (10).
Utah vs Oregon Prediction and Picks
Utah vs Oregon Prediction: Oregon to win
Utah vs Oregon Picks: Oregon ML (Best Value: +105 at Bovada Sportsbook) & Oregon team total over (Best Value: over 30.5 @ -120 at BetOnline)
Having such confidence in the Ducks for my Utah vs Oregon picks might seem surprising, given the uncertainty surrounding Nix’s availability.
But this team is equipped to get it done even if he is unable to play.
I like the Utes a lot, but I don’t love what I have seen from them on the road this season. Their only comfortable win on the road thus far was at Arizona State, who they played a week after Herm Edwards was fired.
Even if Nix is unable to play, Oregon can chew up plenty of clock and churn out plenty of yards by running the ball.
That is something that they should be able to do with success against the Utes, who have allowed 150+ rushing yards five times this season, including 203 (at UCLA) and 283 (at Florida) in their losses.
If the Ducks take full advantage of that weak spot, I like them to come out on top no matter who takes the snaps at QB.
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