No. 5 Utah (11-1) has a possible trip to the College Football Playoff at stake as it travels to Levi’s Stadium to face No. 13 Oregon (10-2) on Friday in the Pac-12 championship game. The Utes have won eight straight games, but both teams average 35 points in this closely matched contest. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Oregon and Utah did not face each other in the regular season and there is little doubt these are the two best teams in the volatile Pac-12, where upsets are the norm. It’s the second straight trip to the title game for Utah, which lost to Washington last season, 10-3.
This game should feature a lot more points between two of the nation’s best-known quarterbacks, Justin Herbert (Oregon) and Tyler Huntley (Utah). With that in mind, here's everything you need for the 2019 Pac-12 championship game:
MORE: Get the latest NCAA odds & betting advice at Sports Insider
Oregon vs. Utah odds
- Spread: Utah -6.5
- Point total: 45.5
- Moneyline: Utah -225, Oregon +195
Utah is a 6.5-point favorite, according to odds at Sports Insider.
Oregon vs. Utah all-time series
Oregon leads the all-time series 22-10, but the teams split the past four meetings with Utah winning last year, 32-25, in Salt Lake City. This is the first time the teams will play on a neutral field.
Three trends to know
— Oregon is just 6-6 against the spread this season and failed to cover the past two games against Arizona State and Oregon State. Utah, which has been favored in every game in 2019, has covered eight straight games.
— Five of the past six games between Utah and Oregon was decided by seven or more points. Oregon is 3-2 in those games and averaged 36.2 points.
— The Utes are 4-1 against the spread on the road while Oregon is 3-2. Oregon is 0-1 as a road underdog.
MORE: A complete guide to conference championship weekend
Three things to watch
Can Justin Herbert get his groove back?
Some mock drafts listed the Oregon quarterback as the No. 1 pick before the season, but the past two games were not part of the highlight reel. Herbert threw two interceptions in a devastating 31-28 loss to Arizona State and passed for a season-low 174 yards last week against Oregon State. Now Herbert faces a Utah defense ranked No. 3 nationally in total defense (241.6 yards per game). Herbert will be even more important Friday as the Ducks might have trouble running against the nation’s No. 1-ranked rushing defense (56.3 yards per game).
Utah’s dynamic duo
Oregon will probably focus on containing Huntley first, but that can be dangerous with running back Zack Moss rushing for 1,246 yards this season. Still, the top priority has to Huntley, who has completed 76 percent of his passes for 2,773 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He is a dangerous runner with 255 yards and five touchdowns.
Pac-12 pride
The neutral observers are probably rooting for Utah since the beleaguered conference desperately needs to get back into the national conversation with a Playoff contender. Even if the Utes win, they need to hope LSU defeats Georgia in the SEC title game and the winner of the Big 12 championship doesn't leapfrog them. It would be worth an extra $6 million to the Pac-12 if two teams get into New Year’s 6 bowl games.
MORE: Picks against the spread for every conference championship game
Stat that matters
The offenses are similar in production as Oregon averages 452.3 yards per game while Utah averages 453.6. But there is a big difference in how long the offenses stay on the field. Utah ranks No. 2 nationally in time of possession (34:28) while Oregon ranks No. 97 (28.41). Something is going to give.
Oregon vs. Utah prediction
It’s a Pac-12 game, so there should be plenty of points. But Oregon’s offense took last weekend off against arch-rival Oregon State, scoring just 24 points against the Beavers’ No. 116-ranked pass defense. It’s actually been a two-game problem as Herbert has only three touchdowns and two interceptions the past two games. Utah’s offense is more two-dimensional behind Huntley and Moss, and that should allow the Utes to squeak past the Ducks and keep their Playoff hopes alive.
Final score: Utah 35, Oregon 31