Three Things To Watch For With Three Bold Predictions For Utes In Pac-12 Title Game

LAS VEGAS – For the third time in the last four seasons the University of Utah will be playing for a Pac-12 Championship. Is the third time the charm?

In order for the Utes to win their first conference title and first ever trip to the Rose Bowl this is what needs to happen in their rematch with the 10^th ranked Oregon Ducks.

Dominate The Line Of Scrimmage

For the casual football fan (which most of us are) watching the line of scrimmage during a football game is not very exciting. But the old cliché that football games are won in the trenches is a very true statement.

Utah was a three-point favorite when they faced the then-No. 3 Oregon Ducks two weeks ago. Utah won the game by 31 points. It was a blowout because Utah dominated the line of scrimmage.

Oregon’s top three running backs average 5.2, 5.8 and 7.4 yards per carry. As a team the Ducks average 214 yards rushing per game but back on November 20^th Utah held them to just 63 yards on 23 carries.

.@KSLsports is on the scene for the #Pac12FCG pic.twitter.com/cmMzsqFNPl

— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) December 3, 2021

“We made a bunch of plays in that game a couple weeks ago that don’t mean squat right now,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier this week. “They don’t care. And they’re not going to have any impact on this game.”

True, but it doesn’t mean you wipe the game plan completely clean and start from scratch with the conference championship on the line. The way the Utes approach the game has to be the same. They have to be merciless.

“If we have that same mentality that we had that first time around, that same look in their eye, that same determination, that same attitude of not to be denied then we’ve got a good chance,” Whittingham said. “That’s our focus of how we approach the game.”

BOLD PREDICTION: Oregon averages 28 pass attempts per game. The Ducks will pass the ball at least 40 times in the game, the result of a struggling run game against the Utah defense.

Rising To The Top

Everyone who knows anything about Utah football knows that if the Utes are going to win this game they have to run the ball and run the ball well. That starts with dominating the line of scrimmage on offense as well.

Oregon’s head coach Mario Cristobal expects nothing less.

“When we go thud, thud has got to be real,” Cristobal said of his team’s defensive effort against Utah’s run game. “Their O-line does a good job at controlling the line of scrimmage so there is no penetration. They don’t stop their feet. Their running backs are coming with a full head of steam before they break the plane of the line of scrimmage and get to your second level of defense.“

Tavion Thomas ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting with the Ducks. He will be a key factor in Utah’s offensive success again on Friday.

But Utah’s offense only goes as Cam Rising goes.

GAMEDAY pic.twitter.com/1aLDmkYcQ5

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 3, 2021

Rising is one of the best decision making quarterbacks in the Pac-12. He doesn’t make many mistakes.

Since taking over as the Utes starting quarterback in week three, Rising has thrown just three interceptions and only been sacked four times while tossing 17 touchdowns. He has solid protection from his offensive line in front of him but he also has the awareness to know when to get rid of the ball, and not only that but to not force the ball into perilous coverage.

BOLD PREDICTION: Rising will have 20+ pass completions against the Ducks. He’s only eclipsed 20 completions in a game three times this season and has not done it since October 23 against Oregon State. He only completed 10 passes in his last meeting with Oregon. Add 3 touchdowns to his day as well, something he also has only done three times this season.

Devin Lloyd, Devin Lloyd, Devin Lloyd!

This is Devin Lloyd’s stage. A stage where he can do something special for Utah’s defense, strengthen that NFL resume and punch Utah’s first ever ticket to the Rose Bowl. This would be the greatest Utah win since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.

Lloyd is the heartbeat of the Utah defense and it will be his performance and demeanor that will not only build confidence in his teammates, but will frustrate Oregon’s attempt to get any momentum going.

Anthony Brown completed just 48 percent of his passes and ran for only eight yards on nine attempts the first time he faced Utah. It doesn’t make things any easier when he looks across the line and sees No. 0 staring right back at him.

Lloyd has a career-high 100 tackles this season, career-high seven sacks, is the only Utah player with multiple interceptions this season (3) and returned one of those for a touchdown.

The lights at Allegiant Stadium will be shining on Lloyd on Friday night. Will he shine back? He must.

BOLD PREDICTION: Devin Lloyd will have a strip-sack in the game and will be named the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP.

SCORE PREDICTION: Utah 27, Oregon 24