Rece Davis believes Oregon wins, Utah covers

The biggest game of this weekend will go down in Salt Lake City when No. 8 Oregon and No. 13 Utah kick off. With College GameDay on hand for Ducks vs. Utes too, Rece Davis is expecting a great contest from both squads.

Davis made his prediction for the major matchup in the Pac-12 on the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Thursday. He went straight into the pick in this one as he chose Oregon to win the game but Utah to keep things close enough, in large part due to their demeanor and as the home team, to cover the seven-point spread.

“I’m done doubting Utah,” said Davis. “I think Oregon is the better team and I think they’re going to win the game. But I’m not totally convinced of it.”

“When you’re in that situation with a team that is as ill-tempered, in a good way, as Utah is? And you’re giving me a touchdown in that place with that team and that coach? I’m going to take Utah and the points,” Davis explained.

In the end, he thinks Oregon is going to win because, in his eyes, they’re good enough to make the playoff and win the national title. Even so, he is well aware that the Ducks could pick up another loss this weekend if they don’t bring their boxing gloves to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“My instinct is that Oregon is going to pull out a close game. I still believe Oregon is good enough and capable of winning the national championship. They’ll have to lose again before I back off that assertion,” stated Davis. “But they better come ready for a fight. I don’t mean come ready for a game. They’d better come ready for a fight because they’re going to get it.”

This will be Oregon’s third ranked conference game of the year while it will be Utah’s fourth. Both sides are battle-tested and set to give us what Davis expects to be one of the grittier contests of the season.

With all that said, Davis still stuck with the Ducks because of the advantage he sees them having at quarterback in Bo Nix.

“I think this will be one of the most physical, toughest games of the season,” said Davis. “Oregon plays with a swagger and an edge and Utah plays with a nasty, quiet confidence. This is a football game for football people.”

“I’m going to take Utah at home and the points. I suspect Oregon finds a way, largely on the strength of, probably, as much as I respect Bryson Barnes and all of the great stuff that has happened, coming back and taking the job back? The edge at quarterback goes to Oregon. I think that’s going to make the difference in the end,” Davis said. “I’ll take Oregon to get the win but Utah to get the cover.