Utah vs. Arizona Prediction, Game Preview

The Arizona Wildcats (5-5) are looking to complicate the South Division race when the frontrunning Utah Utes (8-1) come to Tucson this weekend. Check out the Utah vs. Arizona prediction and game preview.

Utah vs. Arizona Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 10:00 ET
Network: Fox Sports 1

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Why You Need To Care

Utah’s trek toward a possible Pac-12 South title continues this weekend in the desert. The Utes rebounded from their only loss of 2015, to USC on Oct. 24, with consecutive wins over Oregon State and Washington, the latter to avoid a potential landmine in Seattle. Next up is Arizona, which played the Trojans tighter last Saturday than Utah did three weeks ago. And which embarrassed the Utes, 42-10, last fall at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It’s been an awful year for the Cats, the defending division champs, who’ve dropped three straight and need to win one of these two final games just to reach bowl eligibility.

Why Utah Will Win

True, the Wildcats played USC well last week, but they’re still sort of a mess as the season winds down. The Scooby-less defense has allowed 40 points per Pac-12 game, while the offense could be without starting RB Nick Wilson and a couple of key linemen. And a depleted O-line is especially bad news when the Utes are on your campus. Utah is stout in the front seven, uncorking the quickness of LB Gionni Paul and the D-line toughness to lead the league in run defense.

Why Arizona Will Win

A glimmer of hope comes from RichRod’s offense, which tagged USC for 24 first downs and 352 passing yards a week ago. QB Anu Solomon is coming off arguably his best game of the year, completing 31-of-46 and throwing touchdowns to three different receivers. If the Wildcats can build off last Saturday, they’re capable of outgunning a Utah attack that leans heavily on one player, RB Devontae Booker, and is only 89th nationally in passing offense.

Player Who Matters

It’s been a rocky year for the Arizona blocking unit, a situation exacerbated by recent dings to guards Jacob Alsadek and Freddie Tagaloa. If Alsadek and Tagaloa are scratched or compromised, it’ll create huge problems on the interior that the Utes will exploit with Lowell Lotulelei and Filipo Mokofisi. On the edge, UCLA transfer Kylie Fitts has played well as Hunter Dimick rehabs a shoulder injury.

What’s Going To Happen?

Utah showed last week at U-Dub that it has a razor-sharp focus in the month of November. And the right talent mix to overcome an Arizona squad that might have the worst defense at this juncture. The Utes will hammer the Wildcats with Booker on the inside and Wilson occasionally through the air. Plus, the Cats’ ability to keep Solomon safe will be in jeopardy from start to finish.