Utah game-by-game predictions
Game 1: at BYU
Utah opens its schedule with an in-state rival on tap—that is, BYU, in the latest chapter of the storied Holy War. Staged in Provo, marking the Utes’ first season opener on the road since playing Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2008, this is a game the Utes—in keeping with the tradition of the previous eight meetings—should walk away from victorious thanks to a decided talent advantage.
Result: Win
Game 2: vs. Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois put a scare in Utah when the schools met at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb last season, but fear not of the rematch, Ute faithful. While the Huskies are returning many of last season’s key players and have a history of punching above their weight (defeating nine Power 5 opponents over the last 16 seasons), they also saw their entire coaching staff from 2018-19 dissolve after former head coach Rod Carey fled for the Temple job. Combine that with the fact that Utah is at home and boasts superior talent, and it’s difficult to envision an upset materializing here.
Result: Win
Game 3: vs. Idaho State
Fresh off an offseason that delivered headlines for all the wrong reasons, Idaho State travels to Salt Lake City in Week 3 for its annual “revenue game”, with an ugly loss all but assured. Barring anything dramatic, you get the sense both sides will get what they need: a check for ISU and a third win for Utah to close out its nonconference schedule.
Result: Win
Game 4: at USC
Utah’s road to the Rose Bowl begins just 16 miles southwest of it, inside the walls of the Los Angeles Coliseum, with this game against USC that many speculate will have major implications on the race for the Pac-12 South title. With USC coming off a disappointing 5-7 season in 2018, its first losing campaign in 18 years, Clay Helton will look to return the Trojans to form in short order despite a schedule that does them no favors. Such as it is, after facing Fresno State, Stanford and BYU in the first three weeks, this game against Utah means no rest for the weary and sets up the Trojans for their second-straight loss to their Pac-12 south foe.
Result: Win
Game 5: vs. Washington State
The matchup between Mike Leach’s high-flying offense and Utah’s pass defense will draw most of the attention, but the more important matchup will likely be the one between Utah’s run-first offense and Wazzu’s leaky run defense. As it happens, workhorse running back Zack Moss returns for the Utes this season, having rushed for 1096 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games in 2018. Meanwhile, the Cougars field one of the smaller front-sevens in the conference, leaving them vulnerable against Utah’s bellcow.
With that in mind, look for the Utes to ride a smashmouth, ball-control-oriented game plan to a fifth victory.
Result: Win
Game 6: at Oregon State
The Utes have toppled Oregon State in each of their last three meetings, and with the Beavers stuck in a rebuild, don’t expect that streak to stop now. The bet here: Utah, in a landslide.
Result: Win
Game 7: vs. Arizona State
Historically, Arizona State’s had a way of getting the better of Utah, defeating the Utes in six of their eight matchups since 2011. And yet, Utah’s fortunes may well change in 2019, if only because ASU loses quarterback Manny Wilkins and wide receiver N’Keal Harry from last year’s team—leaving these Sun Devils to rely on running back Eno Benjamin to do the heavy lifting for the offense.
With Benjamin as the catalyst, Arizona State will need to find purchase against Utah’s stout run defense if it is to win in Salt Lake City. But without Wilkins and Harry to threaten defenses vertically and open running lanes underneath, that’s likely too tall a task for the junior halfback against Utah’s defensive front. For these reasons, chalk up another win for Utah.
Result: Win
Game 8: vs. California
Utah’s defensive prowess is nothing new, and with Cal returning many of the pieces that made its defense one of the most formidable in the country last season, this date between the two has all the ingredients for a defensive struggle. In what is sure to follow a low-scoring and turnover-filled game script, look for the Utes’ offense—spearheaded by Tyler Huntley, Moss and Britain Covey—to edge out their visitors by making a few more, ever critical, plays down the stretch.
Result: Win
Game 9: at Washington
Here again, the Utes look poised to go 12 rounds in a defensive battle. Only this time, they’re throwing hands with a heavyweight, and one that has historically withstood Utah’s best punch.
Yes, Washington is losing a boatload of talent on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, but if Chris Peterson has proven anything during his time in Seattle, it’s that he knows how to reload while avoiding major slippage. On that alone, color me a bit skeptical about Utah closing the talent gap between the two schools and knocking off Washington in their own backyard in a potential preview of the Pac-12 Championship game.
Result: Loss
Game 10: vs. UCLA
The focus of the Bruins’ season will be improving upon last year’s 3-9 record, and given the amount of talent they’re returning, improve they should. Even so, this is a team that’s still at least a year away from contending for the South, and one Utah—healthy or not at this point in the season—should have little trouble dispatching.
Result: Win
Game 11: at Arizona
The one-two punch of quarterback Khalil Tate and running back J.J. Taylor is as dynamic as anything you’ll find in this conference, and in Year 2 in Noel Mazzone’s offense, both are candidates to have the breakout seasons that many expected they would have a year ago.
Which, for Utah, makes this late-season affair very dangerous. While Arizona, as a whole, is still something of an unknown quantity, losing this game is not out of the question for the Utes. For the record, I’m taking Utah based on what’s at stake (taking care of business to ensure another appearance in the Pac-12 Championship). But given the potential of the Wildcats’ starry tandem, I may live to regret that pick.
Result: Win
Game 12: vs. Colorado
With another Pac-12 Championship appearance within spitting distance, and Colorado nearing the end of another losing, dispiriting season, this one will be something of a formality by the time it goes live. With great authority, look for the Utes—in playing in their seventh home game—to finish the regular season in style and punch their ticket to a second consecutive Pac-12 Championship appearance.
Result: Win