Utah vs. Kansas prediction: Odds, picks, best bet for Big 12 showdown on Friday

· New York Post

Utah’s season is hanging on by a thread.

The Utes are still alive in the Big 12 and the College Football Playoff, but they’d need a win over Kansas on Friday and a lot of help to get into either.

Utah would clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a win in Lawrence, plus a BYU victory over UCF, an Arizona State win over Arizona and a Texas Tech loss against West Virginia. Got that?

The Utes are a 13.5-point favorite over Kansas on Friday.

Utah vs. Kansas odds, prediction

Sports are cruel, and it seems unfair that Utah may not receive proper recognition for a splendid season.

A win over the Jayhawks on Friday would put Utah at 10-2 overall, with its only losses coming against No. 7 Texas Tech and No. 11 BYU.

Logan Fano and Lander Barton of the Utah Utes celebrate together. Getty Images

The Utes also boast one of the most balanced statistical profiles in the country.

Utah’s offense ranks sixth in FBS in points per game, fourth in yards per game and 20th in yards per play, and the defense sits 18th in points allowed, 45th in yards per play and 15th in points per play allowed.

It may not be an elite portfolio, but it paints the picture of a team with no real weakness.

That’s not the case for Kansas.

Betting on College Football?

The Jayhawks are not a terrific offensive team, but they can score; however, the defense is a mess. Kansas ranks 86th in yards per play allowed (5.8) and 85th in points allowed per game (28.3).

That spells doom against a Utah offense that is averaging 51 points per game over its last four outings and has scored at least 40 points in six of its last seven.

Perhaps the Jayhawks can stick with the Utes for a little while, but eventually Utah will pull away and try to make one last statement for the College Football Playoff committee to consider.

The Play: Utah -13.5 (-110, FanDuel)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.