The Colorado Buffaloes enter their rivalry matchup with the Utah Utes as heavy favorites as they look for their first series win since 2016. Utah is having a down season compared to the team we saw in the Pac-12, but that doesn’t mean that CU should take the Utes lightly on Saturday (10 a.m. MT, Fox).

The Utes (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) come into the game limiting teams to just 20.7 points per game in conference play, but the Buffs (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) are right there along with into the Utes. allowing 23.3 per game – good for fourth in the Big 12.

The discrepancy comes when you look at each team’s offensive output. Colorado leads the Big 12 in conference points per game (37.2), while Utah has averaged just 15.5 points in conference games, largely due to injuries.

I don’t see Utah’s offense breaking out against a defense that plays as well as Colorado’s, especially since the Utes will once again have to start a different quarterback. Utah’s defense will make things tough and the Buffs may have to rely on defensive scoring, but I predict they will get their eighth win of the season.

Final score prediction: Colorado 24, Utah 10

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Tony’s Take: Predicting Utah’s final score at Colorado