Utah Utes at Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Stadium – Tucson, Arizona
Saturday, October 19, 2013, 10:05 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Opening Line: Arizona -4 1/2
Current Line: Arizona -3 1/2 (-115)
Opening Total: 59
Current Total: 61 1/2
Opening Money Line: Arizona -200 / Utah +170
Current Money Line: Arizona -180 / Utah +160

The 4-2 Utah Utes travel to the 3-2 Arizona Wildcats Saturday in a Pac 12 border battle. Utah is 1-2 in the Pac 12 and Arizona is 0-2 in conference. Utah leads the series 20-16-2 including 9-8-2 in Tucson. The Utes have won 3 of the last 4 in the series, but lost last year in Salt Lake City 34-24.

Utah is coached by Kyle Whittingham. The Utes have home wins over Utah State 30-26, Weber State 70-7, and last week against previously undefeated and then #5 Stanford 27-21, along with a road win at BYU 20-13. The Utes have home losses to Oregon State 51-48 in overtime and UCLA 34-27. This is the first game outside the state of Utah for the Utes. Utah is 4-2 ATS and the total is 3-3 this season. The Utes were 7.5 point underdogs against Stanford and the total was 52.5.

Utah and Stanford traded touchdowns in the first quarter making it 14-14. The Utes would take  a 21-14 lead at halftime. Utah would add two second half field goals to expand the lead to 27-14. Stanford pulled to within 27-21 with 9:22 left in the fourth. The Cardinal forced a three and out on the next Utah possession. The Utes punted and Stanford took over at their own 12. The Cardinal would drive all the way to the Utah 6 yard line but turned the ball over on downs on fourth and 2. Utah then ran out the clock to secure the upset. The Utes had 410 yards including 234 passing yards. Stanford had 389 total yards including 246 passing yards. The Cardinal had two turnovers and the Utes had one.

Utah is outscoring teams 37-25 so far this season. Utah is averaging 470.3 yards per game including 277.7 passing and 192.7 rushing yards. The Utes are 45th or better nationally in all offensive categories On defense, the Utes are allowing 403.2 yards per game, including 269.5 passing and 133.7 rushing yards. Utah is #105 out of 125 teams in pass defense, but #33 in rush defense.   The Utes are -3 in turnovers with 8 takeaways. Utah is 32/88 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 45/113. The Utes have forced 20 sacks and allowed 8 this season. Utah is 20/22 scoring in the red zone with 14 touchdowns and opponents are 21/24 with 14 touchdowns. The Utes are averaging 47 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 68. Utah has two defensive touchdowns and has allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown and a pick six.

Quarterback Travis Wilson has completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,640 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 10 picks. He also has 48 carries for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns. Running back Bubba Poole has 85 carries, 441 yards and a touchdown , along with 22 catches for 195 yards. Lucky Radley has 25 carries, 163 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 4 catches 47 yards and a touchdown. Kelvin York, Karl Williams and Marcus Sanders-Williams all get several carries a game as well. Each has a touchdown run. Williams also has 2 touchdown catches. Receiver Dres Anderson has 28 catches, 592 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sean Fitzgerald has 20 catches, 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tight end Jake Murphy has 10 catches and a touchdown but is out for the season with a broken wrist. Three Ute defensive players are listed as questionable to out.

Arizona is coached by Rich Rodriguez. Arizona opened the season with 3 straight wins over Northern Arizona 35-0 and UTSA 38-13, both in Tucson, and a road win at UNLV 58-13. The Wildcats have lost two straight games to open Pac 12 play at Washington 31-13 and last week at USC 38-31. Arizona is 2-3 ATS and the total is 2-3 this season. The Wildcats was a 5.5 point underdog at USC and the total was 48.

USC took a 28-10 lead at halftime on a Thursday night game against Arizona. It was the first game for USC after they fired coach Lane Kiffin a couple of weeks ago. USC would expand the lead to 38-17 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats would add two late touchdowns to pull within 38-31 with just over 4 minutes to go. Arizona kicked off deep and USC ttok over at their four yard line. The Wildcats would never get the ball back as the Trojans took the ball to their own 40 and ran out the clock. USC had 546 total yards including 297 passing and 249 rushing yards. Arizona had 508 total yards including 363 passing yards.

Arizona is outscoring teams 35-19 this season. The Wildcats are #36 nationally in scoring and #21 in points allowed. Arizona is averaging 423.8 yards per game including the nation’s 14th best rushing attack at 262.2 yards per game. The passing game is #114 out of 125 teams at 161.6 yards per game. On defense, the Wildcats are allowing 377.2 yards per game including 208 passing and 169.2 yards per game. The Wildcats are +5 in turnovers with 9 takeaways. Arizona is 44/93 on third and fourth down conversions, and opponents are 36/91. Arizona averages 38 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 64. The Wildcats have forced 6 sacks and allowed 7. Arizona is 15/18 scoring in the red zone with 11 touchdowns, and opponents are 9/10 with 8 touchdowns. The Wildcats have 3 pick sixes this season.

Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker has completed 54.5% of his passes for 808 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 picks. Denker also has 62 carries, 272 yards and 6 touchdowns. Running back Ka’Deem Carey has 94 carries, 569 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with 12 catches for 118 yards. Daniel Jenkins has 40 carries, 263 yards and a touchdown, along with 5 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. Jared Baker, Javelle Allen and Kylan Butler will also get some carries. Allen and Butler each have a rushing touchdown. Garic Wharton and Samajie Grant will get most of the receiving targets on the few times the Wildcats throw the ball. Two Wildcat receiver DaVonte Neal and Austin Hill are all listed as questionable or out, and so are four Arizona defensive players including 3 linebackers.

Utah is 5-2 ATS in October, 2-5 in road games, 4-14 after a straight up win, and 1-5 in Pac 12 games. The road team has covered the last 4 in this series and the underdog is 5-1 ATS recently.

Arizona is 5-2 ATS after passing for more than 280 yards, 7-3 in October, 6-14 after a straight up loss, 16-38 after allowing more than 280 passing yards, 2-5 overall, 2-6 against teams with winning road records, 1-4 after failing to cover, at home, 1-4 after gaining 450 yards or more and allowing 450 yards or more, 1-5 in Pac 12 games, 1-6 on grass, and 0-5 against teams with winning records.

Utah has been inconsistent this season and has lost heart breakers to Oregon State and UCLA. If Utah plays like they did last week against Stanford then they have a really good shot of pulling off the mild upset on the road.

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