Utah vs. Cincinnati College Football Week 9 Picks (Saturday)
No. 6 Utah heads to Nippert Stadium to take on Cincinnati on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Utes enter as 7-point road favorites, while the total sits at 56.5. Cincinnati looks to turn home-field advantage into an upset, giving bettors a choice between backing the ranked visitor or taking the points with the Bearcats. Read on for our Utah vs. Cincinnati picks and predictions, betting odds and best bets.
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Saturday’s Best Week 9 College Football Picks: Utah vs. Cincinnati
Week 8 of the 2026 college football season featured some incredible performances. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 32 of his 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-17 win over Auburn. Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney logged 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-23 thrashing of Pitt. The focus now shifts to a Week 9 slate packed with intriguing storylines and ranked programs in action.
No. 6 Utah Utes at Cincinnati Bearcats
Utah remains one of only three unbeaten squads in college football. The Utes are 7-0 and have won 13 straight games. Utah’s latest 21-13 win over Houston in Week 8 featured quarterback Devon Dampier’s 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Meanwhile, Cincinnati ended Texas Tech’s undefeated campaign with a 37-24 win at Nippert Stadium in Week 8. Running back Cole Tabb flourished, totaling 178 yards and two touchdowns on 18 touches.
Utah’s zero in the loss column is no accident. The Utes have been balanced all year long, ranking as a top-20 program in yards per game (452.7) and opponent points per game (14.7).
Dampier is the straw that stirs the drink, totaling 20 touchdowns to six interceptions in seven contests. Cincinnati is not to be overlooked, but it is an underdog for a reason. The Bearcats rank outside of the top 90 FBS teams in opponent yards (460.8) and opponent points (29.2) per game. Defense has been their downfall.
I’ll stay focused on the big picture here. Utah has covered the spread in each of its past six games versus foes with a winning record, and in nine of its past 12 games overall. Cincinnati has failed to cover the spread in 11 of its last 16 home underdog duels.
The Utes crushed the Bearcats 45-14 in 2025 behind running back Wayshawn Parker’s big performance (104 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries). The combination of him and Dampier will make it tough for anyone to take down the Utes this fall.
Pick: Utah Utes -6.5 (-110)