Houston vs. Utah Prediction, CFB Week 8 Odds & Best Bets (10/24)

Fact checked at 7:10 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

Odds as of 7:10 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

No. 14 Houston (6-1) visits No. 10 Utah (6-0) at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday at 10:15 PM ET. Both come in off close wins: Houston beat Oklahoma State 35-32, and Utah held on at Colorado, 27-24. Utah is a 6.5-point favorite, and the total sits at 57.5 after climbing several points since it opened.

Utah scores 40.2 points a game and Houston 39.3, but the more useful numbers are on defense. Houston has held five of its six FBS opponents to 134 rushing yards or fewer, and Utah has held four of its five FBS opponents to 111 or fewer. With two run defenses that good, we expect the quarterbacks to decide this one: Devon Dampier throwing at a Houston secondary that has given up big numbers all season, and Conner Weigman throwing to keep pace on the road. The forecast is partly cloudy and in the upper 40s with almost no wind, so the weather shouldn't slow either passing game. Both quarterbacks are expected to start, and both picks depend on it.

Houston vs. Utah Predictions

• Pick #1: Devon Dampier 220+ Passing Yards (-166)
• Pick #2: Conner Weigman 210+ Passing Yards (-187)

PICK #1: Devon Dampier 220+ Passing Yards (-166)

Pass defense is Houston's soft spot. Five of the six FBS starting quarterbacks it has faced threw for more than 220 yards: Oregon State's Braden Atkinson had 376, Texas Tech's Will Hammond 257, Georgia Southern's Max Johnson 284, UCF's Keyone Jenkins 253 and Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker 365. Kansas State's Avery Johnson (182) was the only one held under.

Dampier has cleared 220 in four of Utah's five FBS games, with 261 against Arkansas, 253 against Utah State, 238 against Kansas and 278 at Colorado. The miss was 206 at Iowa State. Colorado is the game to study. The Buffaloes held Wayshawn Parker to 98 yards on 23 carries, so Utah put the ball in Dampier's hands and he threw 41 times. Houston's run defense gives Utah every reason to expect the same script.

The -166 price implies a 62.4% chance. Dampier's record against FBS defenses and Houston's record against FBS passers both point higher than that.

Some of Utah's throws go elsewhere. Utah gives Byrd Ficklin some snaps, and he threw for 40 yards against Arkansas and 33 against Utah State, none of which count for Dampier. If Parker runs freely, as he did for 174 yards at Iowa State, Utah won't need to throw much. Utah is also without starting offensive lineman Kelvin Obot (ankle), and his replacement, Solatoa Moea'i, allowed a sack at Colorado. On the other side, Houston coach Willie Fritz expects cornerback Jalen Mayo back after he missed last week's game.

PICK #2: Conner Weigman 210+ Passing Yards (-187)

Weigman has thrown for at least 239 yards in all six of Houston's games against FBS opponents: 305 against Oregon State, 283 at Texas Tech, 239 at Georgia Southern, 239 against UCF, 242 at Kansas State and 343 against Oklahoma State. His lowest total against an FBS defense still cleared this line by 29 yards.

This isn't a cheap price. At -187 you're paying for a 65.2% chance, and Utah's pass defense is good: FBS opponents have completed only 51% of their passes against the Utes, and Utah held Utah State to 130 passing yards and Iowa State to 205. The opening for Weigman is Utah's pass rush. The Utes have 11 sacks in six games, tied for 91st in the country, and Houston's line has allowed seven all season. With a clean pocket and that floor, Weigman is a good bet to reach 210. Utah's last two opponents, Kansas and Colorado, threw for 333 and 256.

Game script helps too, since Houston is the underdog. In its only loss, 28-26 at Texas Tech, Weigman attempted 38 passes and finished with 283 yards. The danger is a low-volume night. Houston's lightest passing game was the 42-28 win at Georgia Southern, where Weigman threw only 22 passes, though he still reached 239.

Both picks win in a game the quarterbacks decide, and both lose together if the two teams find room to run and keep the ball on the ground.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.