(Photo: Fox Sports) 

Saturday Spotlight

(2) Utah Utes at (23) Arizona Wildcats

Utah (9-0):

I’ve enjoyed watching this team this season, and I feel they are a legitimate threat to win the whole thing. Not just to reach the National Championship, but to hoist the College Football Playoff trophy in the process. There’s nothing particularly flashy about this football team. They simply get down to business with a downhill style of football, and defensively, they play a punishing yet physical brand of football. Last Saturday was quite the game for them, wasn’t it? They jumped out to a fast start, scoring the first 14 points of the game. Then, in the second quarter, BYU dominated and scored 20 unanswered points. However, in the third quarter, Utah responded and scored the final 14 points of the game. Again, football comes down to which team can make those key adjustments at halftime, and Utah did just that by shutting down a really good BYU offense. I think we can expect Devon Dampier to show why he’s one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, and he certainly showed that last Saturday in Week 10. As solid as the offense was, the defense would hands down get the game ball from me. I loved everything they did. Yes, the Utes may have allowed 391 yards of offense, but they made stops when it mattered most and intercepted Bear Bachmeier four times, making life miserable for him. What a win that was in the first-ever ranked matchup of the “Holy War.” Tonight, they make their way to Tucson for a conference battle.

Arizona (7-2):

The loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Week 9 was a tough one because, at one point, they had the lead before Tech mounted a comeback and won a closely contested football game. Now, following that loss, it’s all about what you learned from it, but most importantly, how you respond. They played the TCU Horned Frogs last weekend and won a close game by a point, 29-28. My biggest takeaway from the Arizona Wildcats in this game was that they still found ways to win and remain productive, even when their offense wasn’t consistently clicking on all cylinders. This offense starts and ends with Noah Fifita. When I saw him play a few weeks ago, I was impressed with his command of the offense, the leadership he displayed, and, most importantly, his ability to spread the ball around. If you’re open, you’re getting the football. Last weekend against TCU, Noah put the team in a position to win, even when the offense struggled, as I mentioned. He made a few plays with his mobility, extended plays outside the pocket, and, when he needed to make a clutch pass, he delivered. Defensively, they were far from dominant, but they made those timely plays when they needed to. All in all, it was a good bounce-back win, and they didn’t fold even when the odds were stacked against them. I saw a team that kept fighting and showed resilience, which is a true testament to Brent Brennan and his coaching. Tonight, the Wildcats welcome the undefeated Utah Utes to town for a Big 12 showdown.

Utah X-Factor: Wayshawn Parker

It’s no secret what the Utes want to do offensively, and that’s run the football. They have such a dynamic backfield with Devon Dampier under center at quarterback and Wayshawn Parker at running back. Remember what I said yesterday in the Steelers/Bengals preview? You can’t always double-team everyone, and in this instance, Arizona will have to choose who they want to prevent from hurting them. If Wayshawn gets established early, this will allow the Utes to control the tempo of the game. Most importantly, it will keep that explosive Wildcats offense on the sidelines. Wayshawn can wear down the defense and help take pressure off Devon.

Arizona X-Factor: Giovanni Richardson

What a game he had last weekend against TCU! Giovanni recorded 11 receptions for 171 receiving yards and had a major impact stretching the field. Tonight, his presence will force Utah to respect his ability to get open because he can turn the smallest receptions into big gains. He’s also a reliable downfield target for Fifita, providing the quarterback with a weapon to attack over the top rather than having to settle for short passes. Giovanni is a momentum changer, and one or two explosive plays could change everything for the Wildcats’ offense. Also, if Utah loads the box, he can make them pay on the outside.

Final Thoughts:

It’s Week 11, and it’s “Statement November,” as I like to refer to it. Utah is looking to maintain its place atop the Big 12, while Arizona is looking for that big win to improve its chances down the stretch. This is another one of those contrasting styles of football, where Utah wants to slow the game down and ugly it up as much as possible, while Arizona wants to turn the game into a shootout or track meet. Utah must remain true to its identity and continue to run the football. Allow Parker to run between the tackles, use him as a receiver, and allow him to take pressure off Dampier. Pressure Noah Fifita without allowing big plays downfield, and can the Utes win the turnover battle once again? They did just that against BYU last weekend. Arizona, on the other hand, must get Richardson involved in any capacity, whether it’s jet sweeps, screen passes, or any other way to get him touches. Make the Utes’ offense one-dimensional, and lastly, contain Devon Dampier. Don’t allow him to escape the pocket or make throws on the run. The only way I’d want him to beat my defense is from the pocket, throwing the ball over the numbers. I can see this being a close game throughout tonight.

Prediction:

Utah 35, Arizona 27