A heavyweight matchup is ahead in the Pac-12, as the no. 1 team in the conference’s North division and the top team in the South division lock horns in Salt Lake City. Will the Oregon Ducks rule this coming Saturday? Or will the Utah Utes show the Ducks who’s the boss in Salt Lake City? Check out our preview of this game below.
Oregon reeled in its fifth-straight victory by upending the Washington State Cougars at home last Saturday, 38-24. It was an easy win for the Ducks, who ran for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout, which is a nice way to set themselves up for a date against a much tougher opponent next weekend in the form of the Utes. Anthony Brown could prove to be a giant headache for the Utes. The dual-threat quarterback rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Washington State. He’ll be facing Utah’s defense that isn’t spectacular against the run and had just surrendered 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on 50 carries to Arizona Wildcats quarterback Will Plummer. Utah even won over a one-win Arizona team by just a single-digit margin. As a team, Oregon stepped on the field in Week 11 as the no. 10 team in the nation in terms of rushing yards per game (223.2) and eighth in yards per carry (5.5).
Oregon is 3-1 against the spread in its last four meetings with the Utes.
Utah had to sweat a bit in its last game, as the Utes managed to stave off the Arizona Wildcats in a 38-29 road win. Cameron Rising rose to the occasion and passed for 294 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 19/30 completions while running back TJ Pledger led the Utes on the ground. Pledger racked up 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Utes actually missed the services of their leading rusher, as Tavion Thomas sat out the game due to injuries, though there’s a good chance that he returns to action for the marquee showdown against Oregon. Utah’s offense is one of the best in the nation, and Thomas’ absence didn’t stop the Utes from showing out on the end of the field. Utah entered the Arizona game with an average of 34.9 points per game. If the Ducks want to turn next Saturday’s game into a track meet, Utah should be able to keep up, especially of Thomas returns. The Utes went to Week 11 ranked first nationally with 6.2 rushing yards per carry and 11th with 223.1 rushing yards per game.
Utah is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games overall.
