College Football Game of the Week: No. 10 Utah vs. No. 10 Oregon
In the Pac 12 Game of the Week, No. 10 Utah matches up with No. 12 Oregon in Eugene, OR. The top ranked teams will battle it out on Nov. 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET in the latest edition of “Pac 12 after dark”.
Utah and Oregon have been two of the most productive offensive teams in the nation and should continue to put up high numbers on the scoreboard. Both sides have identical records – 8-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
With Pac 12 championship berth on the line, both sides are ready for an competitive conference matchup.
No. 10 Utah Utes (8-2, 6-1)
No. 10 Utah has been averaging 40.6 points per game and should be able to hit that threshold against Oregon. The Utes battled No. 6 Ohio State last season in the Rose Bowl and could potentially be back in that bowl game this season.
Quarterback Cameron Rising has led the Utes to an 8-2 record with tough losses against Florida and No. 18 UCLA. Rising is a junior leader with tons of experience under his belt. The Ventura, CA native has 19 pass touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns this season.
Running Back Tavion Thomas has made an impact for the Utes this season in the backfield. Thomas is coming off a 180-rush yard, two-touchdown game against Stanford on Nov. 12. The elite performance against Stanford makes Thomas’ second 100+ rush yard game this season.
The key to victory for the Utes is utilizing Thomas in the backfield. Thomas has been rushing 12.3 times a game and that number should increase in a potential shoot-out with Oregon.
Wide receiver Devaughn Vele and tight end Dalton Kincaid are impactful pass-catchers for the Utes. Vele, the lead wideout, leads the team with 546 receiving yards in 10 games.
Kincaid provides solid stability in the passing game for Rising. The 6-foot-4 senior uses his physicality to his advantage when running routes.
Wide receiver Money Parks and running back Micah Bernard can also be key players in the receiving game for the Utes.
No. 12 Oregon Ducks (8-2, 6-1)
The No. 12 Oregon Ducks were riding a hot eight-game win streak, but recently fell to No. 25 Washington on Nov. 12 by a score of 37-34. The Ducks, led by Bo Nix, aim to get back on track against a tough Pac 12 opponent, No. 10 Utah.
Quarterback Bo Nix is more than just a pass-thrower: He’s a play-maker. Nix may not have the strongest arm, but the Auburn transfer is able to create plays on the run using his aggressive speed.
Nix leads the Pac 12 in rushing touchdowns with 14. Nix has rushed for six touchdowns and thrown for seven in the past three matchups. It’ll be tough for Utah to stop, or even limit Nix and his elite play-making abilities.
Running backs Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington provide Nix with an elite sophomore backfield that can make an impact at any time. Irving leads the team with 834 rush yards but only has two touchdowns. On the other hand, Whittington has rushed for 618 yards with four touchdowns.
Many wouldn't consider the Ducks’ passing game to be their star of the offense. Wideout Troy Franklin is not your typical lead receiver.
Franklin has seen the highest-of-highs and the lowest-of-lows in the box score. The sophomore from East Palo Alto, CA. has three games 100+ receiving yards in ten games. Franklin only has six receiving touchdowns.
Tight end Terrance Ferguson could be an ‘X-Factor’ for the Ducks. The sophomore from Littleton, CO has 70 reception yards in the past three games and has been utilized very effectively this season for the Ducks.
Prediction: No. 12 Oregon - 48, No. 10 Utah - 41
Jasper Abrahams is a first-year student studying communications. To contact him, please email, jpa5778@psu.edu.
