The Utah Utes have turned their luck around. This squad got off to a bad start, losing the streak to BYU in their second game, getting beat in double-overtime the next week to San Diego State, and two weeks ago, losing a tough battle to Oregon State.
Despite that, the Utes are still in the driving seat in the Pac-12 South. They are a game ahead of Arizona State and now have the chance to potentially extend their lead, so long as they take care of business on Friday against the Stanford Cardinal.
Stanford, who are 2-4 in conference play and 3-5 overall, will play host to the Utes, who are 4-1 in conference play and 5-3 overall.
A Dangerous Team
Stanford absolutely cannot be dismissed, and personally, I’m terrified of this team. Earlier this season, Stanford was able to upset the Oregon Ducks, who recently were just named the No. 4 team in the nation. If they can do that to Oregon, there’s no reason they can’t do it at home against the Utes.
The Stanford secondary, though inconsistent, can be absolutely killer. When they play their best, as they did against Oregon, they can shut down opposing passing attacks and pick the ball off.
On the other side of the ball, they have the potential to air the ball out. Quarterback Tanner Mckee is one of the best in the Pac-12 at stringing together long drives with his arm, averaging 7.7 yards a completion. 7.7 isn’t a lot, but when it’s nearly every completion, it wears a secondary out.
Another worry is the location- the Utes are on the road, and they’ve been very bad on the road this year. All three losses have come on the road, and while changes have been made since our first two losses, going 1-3 on the road is still a problem, and could be a factor in this game.
The Utes’ Path to Victory
Fortunately for the Utes, the Cardinal can be extremely inconsistent, and there’s a good chance this Stanford team isn’t going to play like they did against Oregon. The Utes have the better roster, I believe, and the better coaching. If the coaching is smart, and the team executes decently, they will – probably – win this game.
If I were to gameplan for the Utes this week, I’d be dialing up our running game for a heavy rushing attack. Stanford ranks 118th in the nation in Defensive Rush EPA (Expected Points Added), while Utah ranks 20th in Offensive Rush EPA. Especially since Stanford’s secondary can play well, and given that RB Tavion Thomas just had a career game last week, the coaching staff would be wise to win the game on the ground.
Quarterback Cam Rising can also run the ball, which has bailed the Utes out on third-and-long about a million times this year. Stanford knows this if they’ve watched their tape, and I’m sure they have. Rolling Rising out of the pocket can make for some explosive plays, and read options can allow for the weak Stanford front to make bad decisions.
The Crystal Ball
Another week, another set of predictions from my crystal ball. Let’s see what this thing has for us this week, shall we?
- The Utes rush for over 200 yards. This one feels like a no-brainer from the crystal ball. If Utah wants to take advantage of the Stanford defense, then this is an easy ticket.
- Stanford commits two turnovers. Utah’s defense has been improving, especially at causing havoc. This week will be no different, according to the ball.
- Tavion Thomas rushes for two touchdowns. Maybe a little soft from the ball, as he had four last week, but not every week can be record-setting.
- Cam Rising rushes for a touchdown. He’s always doing this, it seems. Rising is one of the best at finding space in the red zone, and his big frame allows him to throw some weight around at the goal line.
- Utah wins 35-17. Stanford won’t hang with the Utes, according to the ball. This bodes well for the Utes, especially as a Pac-12 championship birth is on the table.
