Penn State vs. Utah Odds, Picks, Predictions College Football: Can Utes Claim This Rose Bowl?

The Utah Utes clash with the Penn State Nittany Lions after a heartbreaking defeat to Ohio State in last year's Rose Bowl. Can the Utes earn the victory? Read on for our top Penn State-Utah pick.

This year’s version of the Rose Bowl has a tough act to follow after last year’s edition was perhaps the year's best college football game. Utah played in that matchup, too, suffering a 48-45 heartbreaking defeat to Ohio State to begin 2022.

Utah (10-3) is back again after winning the Pac-12 title, though this time it faces Penn State (10-2) from the Big Ten.

The Nittany Lions ended the year on a four-game win streak, while the Utes enter following back-to-back victories over Colorado and USC.

Here is our best Penn State vs. Utah college football Rose Bowl pick (odds via Caesars Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our college football best bets.

Penn State vs. Utah Game Info

• Date: Monday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
• Weather: 55 degrees, 41% chance of precipitation, 8-mph winds

Penn State vs. Utah Odds

Editor's note: Hey Ohio! Welcome to legal sports betting. Check out the best sites for Ohio sports betting and the best Ohio sportsbook promos!

Penn State vs. Utah Odds Analysis

Utah opened as a 1-point favorite, and the line has moved to 1.5 at some of the top sportsbooks. The Utes are receiving 52% of the cash on 60% of the tickets.

Given last year’s final score, it's no surprise to see the Rose Bowl climb from its opening number of 51. The mark is now widely set at 54, with the Over getting 86% of the cash and 80% of the tickets.

Penn State vs. Utah Pick

Penn State moneyline (+110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Numbers make Penn State a slight favorite, so take the Big Ten team to win outright rather than touch the 2.5-point spread. Bettors might wager on Utah for the revenge narrative, but this is a much different team than the one that went toe-to-toe with a high-powered Ohio State squad.

Last year, the Utes dominated in the trenches and relied on their defense to overpower the Pac-12. This season, Utah averages 40.7 points per game (college football's 7th) with quarterback Cameron Rising leading the way.

Penn State is built for this challenge, allowing an average of 18 PPG. Even with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. opting out, PSU’s secondary is elite, finishing sixth in pass defense EPA during the regular season. The Nittany Lions also have a havoc rate of 27%, and should make life more difficult for Rising than defenses like USC did.

This is also Penn State QB Sean Clifford’s swansong following a much-maligned career. He'll go out as the all-time leader in multiple passing records, but this is his chance to leave PSU on a high note. It might be a bit narrative-based, but bet on that happening.

Penn State vs. Utah Best Odds

Caesars (+110)

Because this line is below a key number with Penn State as a 2.5-point underdog, get the extra juice by playing the moneyline instead. It also helps that the Nittany Lions are short favorites in this game anyway.

Caesars, and PointsBet give their best deal on the underdog by offering a +105 moneyline price while DraftKings and BetMGM have the Nittany Lions at even money. FanDuel isn't far behind at -102, but is the worst option for top-rated sportsbooks. Just make sure to get the best price for the granddaddy of them all.

Penn State-Utah pick made 12/31/2022 at 11:04 a.m. ET.

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

• FanDuel: Get a $1,000 No-Sweat First Bet Offer | Read our FanDuel Review
• Caesars: Earn a First Bet Offer of Up to $1,250 | Read our Caesars Review
• DraftKings: Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,000 | Read our DraftKings Review
• PointsBet: Earn Five First Bet Offer of Up to $100 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
• BetMGM: Get a First Bet Offer of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review

* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related Pages

• Best Online Sportsbooks | Best U.S. Sportsbook Promos