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Everything you need to know for No. 7 Utah vs. UCLA

Utes and Bruins meet on Saturday with Pac-12 South division supremacy on the line

Ryan Kostecka

Everything you need to know for No. 7 Utah vs. UCLA
Everything you need to know for No. 7 Utah vs. UCLA /

Complete Preview for No. 7 Utah-UCLA Matchup

No. 7 Utah (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) vs. UCLA (4-5, 4-2 Pac-12)

When: Saturday, November 16 at 6 p.m. 

Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah

Broadcast Information:

TV: FOX

Play-by-Play: Tim Brando

Analyst: Spencer Tillman

Sideline Reporter: Coley Harvey

Radio: Utah Radio Flagship | KALL 700 AM

Play-by-Play: Bill Riley

Analyst: Scott Mitchell

Game Theme: Veterans Appreciation and 150 Years of College Football

Betting Line: Utah (-21) — Over/Under = 52

Series History: 11-6 UCLA. Although it trails in the overall series record, Utah (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) has been doing its best to even the score by winning three straight in the series. The Utes took down the Bruins 41-10 last year in Southern California with Moss rushing for 211 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Britain Covey amassed 132 scrimmage yards and threw for the lone Utes touchdown through the air. UCLA running back Joshua Kelley, who returns this year, ran for 90 yards and a score.

Utah Storyline: Utah's November struggles have been well documented this decade, but it appears the Utes might be putting those struggles behind them following their 33-28 victory at Washington two weeks ago to begin the month. But there's an argument to be made that this game might be the biggest of the month for the Utes. Utah and UCLA are the only two teams in the Pac-12 south division that control its own fate, so a win outs the winner in the driver's seat, while a loss all but knocks the loser out for good. With the pressure mounting, how does Utah's revamped offense thrive against the highest scoring team in the Pac-12?

UCLA Storyline: For the Bruins it's all fairly simple, defeat No. 7 Utah, USC and Cal to end the season and be named Pac-12 South region champs for the first time since the inaugural Pac-12 championship game in 2011 (USC won the South but was ineligible for postseason, so UCLA took its spot). But that's no easy task considering the Bruins are facing the Pac-12's best defense. Running back Joshua Kelley is the conference's leading rusher, but he's facing the conference's best rush defense. That means the quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson must shoulder the load and make plays through the air and on the ground if UCLA wants the chance to overcome it's 21-point underdog status.

Utah Players to Watch: Senior DT Leki Fotu; Senior RB Zack Moss; Senior DE Bradlee Anae; Sophomore WR Bryan Thompson

Oct 12, 2018; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive tackle Leki Fotu (99) between plays during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium

UCLA Players to Watch: Senior RB Joshua Kelley; Junior DB Darnay Holmes; Sophomore QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson; Senior LB Krys Barnes

November 2, 2019; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Joshua Kelley (27) celebrates his touchdown scored with tight end Devin Asiasi (86) wide receiver Ethan Fernea (36) and offensive lineman Christaphany Murray (76) during the second half at the Rose Bowl

Matchup to Watch: Utah Rush Defense vs. UCLA Rush Offense

Weather Forecast: 45 degrees and clear at kickoff. Zero-percent chance of rain with 52-percent humidity. Winds expected at 4 mph NNW.

Prediction: Vegas apparently has zero issue calling this one in massive favor of Utah, and for good reason. The Utes are the far superior team in arguably every aspect of the game, and I expect them to prove it before night's end, keeping alive its quest to meet No. 6 Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game. I think Utah not only contains Kelley, but blitzes Thompson-Robinson and makes like very uncomfortable him. Utah gets two turnovers, while Moss runs for over 100 yards and two scores and Huntley accounts for three total touchdowns in the Utes win. 

UTAH 45 — UCLA 17

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Ryan Kostecka
RYAN KOSTECKA

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