Arizona vs. Utah Prediction, Game Preview, and Odds

Utah won the game it needed to win.

To go 2-0 in the Big 12, it beat Oklahoma State on the road. From now on, it should be the favourite the rest of the way, at least until the last game of the season at UCF. Now it is time to play well at home against a team from Arizona that needs to win.

After getting stuck in a 31-7 loss at Kansas State, the Wildcats had two weeks off to get ready. BYU looks strong in Provo after beating Texas Tech, so Arizona could use a big win to boost its chances of winning the Big 12 title.

Arizona vs Utah Preview

Arizona vs Utah How to Watch
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Game Time: 10:15 pm ET
Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
How to Watch: ESPN
Utah (4-0), Arizona (2-1)

Why Arizona Will Win

When Utah plays Power Four teams, their offence moves the ball but does not score many points.

Even though the defence is better, the offence is the worst in the Big 12 at making plays on third down. The Wildcats need to load up and put pressure on early on because the attack is balanced and in charge of the ball.

Cam Rising is still only slightly likely to play, and Isaac Wilson is a good-looking young quarterback who has already thrown five interceptions. The Cats should push him to move faster.

Why Utah Will Win

The Utah defence is still very strong.

Some people are still not sure about Cam Rising as a quarterback, and the offence has not always run smoothly. But when the defence is fully focused, they shut down Baylor and swarmed Oklahoma State’s running game last week.

Aztecs may have a strong throwing attack, but the offence gets going with the run game. When Kansas State took that away, the Wildcat line was clogged up, and output stopped.

That year, Arizona ran the ball about five times for every yard and beat the Utes 42–18. With the exception of one or two big runs, that does not happen against this group very often. So…

Arizona vs Utah: Who Will Win

Does Arizona’s passing game need to pick up speed?

It turned up the heat against a bad New Mexico defence but stopped moving against Kansas State. It will be better this time, but it will not be enough.

The Utah defence will stop all of Arizona’s other playmakers, but star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan will get the ball a lot and early on.

As for getting back at the team that beat them badly last year, it will not be quite the same, but the Utes will make a big statement for the second week in a row.