TCU vs Utah Prediction College Football Picks 10/19/24

In this article, we will formulate a TCU vs Utah prediction for this College Football game on Saturday, October 19th at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this Week 8 matchup. 

TCU Horned Frogs Betting Preview

The TCU Horned Frogs are 3-3 (1-2) this year after they lost to Houston by a score of 30-19 in their last game. TCU trailed 24-6 at halftime and while they did battle back, they couldn’t get any closer than eight points. A total of 361-299 outgained the Horned Frogs, lost the turnover battle 4-0, and went 3-10 on third down in the game. Josh Hoover threw for 233 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Cam Cook rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries. 

TCU also has losses against UCF and SMU, but they do have three wins against Stanford, LIU, and Kansas. The TCU offense has scored 35.7 points per game with 342.8 passing yards and 95.2 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 30.8 points per game this season. The Horned Frogs have gone 48.7% on third down and 8-11 on fourth down through six games. Josh Hoover has completed 68.6% of his passes for 2,007 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while Cam Cook has rushed for 336 yards and six scores. 

Utah Utes Betting Preview

The Utah Utes are 4-2 (1-2) this season after they lost to Arizona State by a score of 27-19 last week. Utah led 6-0 early in the game and 16-13 in the third quarter, but they had trouble inside the 30 all night in the loss. The Utes outgained ASU by a total of 349-343, lost the turnover battle 3-1, and went 7-15 on third down in the game. Cam Rising threw for 209 yards and three interceptions, while Micah Bernard rushed for 129 yards and one score. 

Utah also picked up a loss against Arizona in the game prior to ASU, but they did win their first four games against Southern Utah, Baylor, Utah State, and Oklahoma State. The Utah offense has scored 26.2 points per game with 230.8 passing yards and 174.8 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 17 points per game this season. The Utes have gone 35.2% on third down and 7-15 on fourth down so far this season. Cameron Rising has completed 51.5% of his passes for 555 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions, but he is injured and will be out for the season. 

Why TCU will cover

• The road team has won three of TCU’s last four games.
• Utah has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• The road team has covered the spread in four of TCU’s last five games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Utah’s last four home games against non-AP-ranked teams has gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of TCU’s last four road games against non-AP-ranked teams has gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Utah ranks T17th among FBS teams for Q2 opponent points per game this season (4.0).
• Utah ranks 17th among FBS teams for yards allowed per game this season (290.7).
• TCU ranks 123rd among FBS teams for rushing yards per game this season (95.2).
• TCU ranks 17th among FBS teams for Q2 points per game this season (12.0).

TCU vs Utah Prediction 

Utah comes into this matchup on a two-game losing streak and they have some major questions at the quarterback position. Rising came back from injury last week, but he is back out, so it will be up to Wilson under center. TCU has lost three of their last four games and their defense has been pretty bad over the last four games. The Horned Frogs do have a very good passing attack and while I do think their defense is below average, I can’t lay this many points with Utah and their quarterback situation. Take TCU and the points.