Week 14 NCAAF Betting Deep Dive Of The Best Play On The Board
I am doing well this year with my deep dive games, but I have had some bad luck with COVID cancellations. Both games over the last two weeks I have posted are released the morning of and an hour later, they were cancelled.
Lets get after it though and pound out a winner. On the season since I started them here at Barstool, I'm 6-3-1.
Currently at Barstool Sportsbook, Utah is an 11.5 point favorite and the total is 51.5. Both teams have issues here, let's break them down...
Utah comes into this game at 0-2 and the offense is struggling to move the ball. QB Jake Bentley just can't create much rhythm and has already thrown 4 interceptions. No one has really emerged in the offense from a skill position standpoint due probably to a chemistry issue with the signal caller. Utah for awhile has been able to live on reputation at their place. It's a tough place to play and it is, but it hasn't been this year with no fans and let's be real, this isn't a vintage Utah football team. If Utah wants to get going, they have to get star TE Brant Kuithe involved. He was integral last year and unlocks a different element to this offense. Defensively, they have been solid owning the best rushing defense in the PAC 12 but are mostly inexperienced on that side of the ball. Plus I can't say they have seen or will see a running back quite like Jermar Jefferson this year. The good thing for the Utes is that Oregon State have their own problems.
Jefferson is the engine for the Beavers and one of the best running backs in the country. His performance last week in a win against rival Oregon was heroic. 226 yards and 2 TD's was special. He's averaging 7.4 yards a carry and has 7 total TD's in 4 games. That's the good news, he was able to propel them, but it's not like Kyle Whittingham weren't watching. They will try and stack the box here and make Oregon State throw the football which is where the problems lie. Last week, the Beavers lost QB Tristan Gebbia to injury. Beaver fans will get to see Chance Nolan for the first time and people are excited. He needs to rescue them and be able to make plays, he will have the opportunity with mostly the box being stacked in an attempt to corral Jefferson. In frigid temps on the road it will take some time in this one. On the defensive side, Oregon State hasn't been particularly good but with some of the issues with cohesion for Utah that should help them get some stops out of the gate here. One area to watch for Oregon State is the linebackers, they are really good and should be big in the development of them from a total defense standpoint. Omar Speights is a tackling machine.
Barring turnovers and or a big Jefferson run or two, this is going to be a slow start for both teams, I don't think its until later that points start coming, if they come at all. I think both teams feel each other out, especially one with a new QB and a team working on some offensive chemistry. Utah is a slow from a pace perspective and Oregon State will work with getting the ball to Jefferson and with an inexperienced QB on the road that will wind the clock. I expect both defenses to get some big stops and hold each other to 3 over 7. I think this is a game played in the low to mid 20's... 24-21... 27-20 something like that. I don't really care the score, just stay UNDER 51.5.
As always if you're betting, bet responsibly. If your in PA like me, you better be using the Barstool Sportsbook. It's your home to exclusive wagers, great promos and some of the best lines you'll find. Go download it and get in the action.
