Houston at Utah Week 8 College Football Matchup Houston at Utah Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 24 2026 · Week 8 · 🏟 Rice-Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT · Turf · 45,807 cap
Houston✈ 1,200 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
VS
Home
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Houston
26
Utah
30
P&R Line Utah -4
P&R Total O/U 56.5
Confidence 69 Good
Matchup Prediction
Utah has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Utah entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Utah wins
Lean
Game Control
67.1%
Utah wins
Solid
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Utah · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Houston 2026 Schedule
Houston's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Houston vs Oregon State-17.5
Sat 9/12Houston vs Southern-29.5
Sat 9/19Houston at Texas Tech+19.5
Sat 9/26Houston at Georgia Southern-14
Sat 10/3Houston vs UCF-7.5
Sat 10/10Houston at Kansas State+2.5
Sat 10/17Houston vs Oklahoma State-5
Sat 10/24Houston at Utah+4
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/7Houston vs Cincinnati-9
Sat 11/14Houston at Colorado-5.5
Sat 11/21Houston at West Virginia-5
Sat 11/28Houston vs Baylor-7
Utah 2026 Schedule
Utah's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/3Utah vs Idaho-30
Sat 9/12Utah vs Arkansas-10.5
Sat 9/19Utah vs Utah State-20
Sat 9/26Utah at Iowa State-5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/10Utah vs Kansas-10.5
Sat 10/17Utah at Colorado-7
Sat 10/24Utah vs Houston-4
Sat 10/31Utah at Cincinnati-5.5
Sat 11/7Utah vs BYU+3
Sat 11/14Utah at Arizona+2.5
Sat 11/21Utah at TCU+0.5
Sat 11/28Utah vs West Virginia-11.5
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Utah PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Utah
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Utah
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Utah
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Houston #102
+0.190
Utah #3
+0.465
Utah Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Houston #35
+0.361
Utah #30
+0.589
Utah Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Houston #58
0.162
Utah #42
0.169
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Utah Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Houston #83
+6.482
Utah #2
+8.921
Utah Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Houston #74
+0.803
Utah #8
+0.906
Utah Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Houston #33
69.4
Utah #78
71.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Houston Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Houston Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Houston #27
8.3
Utah #30
7.7
Offense Rating
Houston #24
19.9
Utah #35
18.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Houston #33
11.6
Utah #27
10.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Utah Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Houston #23
1.42
Utah #6
1.92
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Houston #70
1.00
Utah #24
0.50
Utah +0.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Utah Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Houston #47
45.9
Utah #7
65.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Houston #61
36.2
Utah #9
21.3
Utah +19.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 67.1% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
Houston
Willie Fritz #23
14–11 (56%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Slade Nagle Yr 2 #115
DC Austin Armstrong Yr 2 #36
Staff Rating
3.07 #45
Utah
Morgan Scalley #77
1–0 (100%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Kevin McGiven Yr 1 #31
DC Colton Swan Yr 1 #68
Staff Rating
2.76 #65
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself