The Utah Utes have shocked the college football world so far. They have played better than even their own fans could have expected. While most fans were only hoping for a bowl appearance during the offseason because of their demanding schedule, they have already gathered the requisite six wins. With that being said, let’s not get too excited about Utah yet.
The biggest problem the Utes face is their upcoming schedule. They play Arizona State, Oregon, Stanford, and Arizona in four consecutive weeks. It is a legitimate possibility that this 6-1 team could fall to 6-5 or 7-4 in the next month. Stanford is the only unranked team on this list, but the Utes will have to travel to Stanford Stadium and endure probably the most physical battle of the season. And that is the worst opponent during this stretch. If Utah can somehow win these games, finish off the season well against Colorado, and win the Pac-12 Championship Game, they will be in the College Football Playoff. That is a huge “if,” but at least it is something they can dream about.
Another reason that I’m not sold on Utah yet is their lethargic offense. The Utes scored a total of 17 offensive points in their last game against USC, and their offense looked abysmal in the first half. While they did look better in the second half against a depleted USC defense, quarterback Travis Wilson failed to reach 200 passing yards and running back Devontae Booker had some fumbling issues. Two games ago against Oregon State, Utah scored 16 offensive points in regulation and they had a grand total of 62 passing yards. Devontae Booker carried them in that game, but even then, he only scored one touchdown in regulation. Three games ago against UCLA, Utah scored 23 offensive points with a grand total of 100 passing yards. They leaned on their defense and Devontae Booker to get the win once again. As for the rest of their season, they scored 13 offensive points in a loss against Washington State, 19 offensive points in a win over Michigan, and they blew out Fresno State and Idaho State. As you can see, the offense has not been stellar so far. If they want to continue to have success, they are going to need significant improvement in the passing game. I’m not sure their offense can match the high-powered offenses of Arizona State, Oregon, and Arizona.
The final reason why I can’t trust Utah yet is their shaky pass defense. While their run defense is very solid, the same can’t be said about their pass defense. In their last game against USC, Cody Kessler threw for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns. Two games ago against Oregon State, Sean Mannion threw for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. Three games ago against UCLA, Brett Hundley threw for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns. Four games ago against Washington State, Connor Halliday torched them for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns. They did a solid job against mediocre quarterbacks in the Michigan, Fresno State, and Idaho State games. However, the passing attacks of Arizona State, Oregon, and Arizona are very dangerous. If they can’t shore up this problem immediately, their chances of winning any of those games are slim.
The Utes have the most difficult four-game stretch of the 2014 college football season approaching rapidly. They are going to need more production from Travis Wilson and a stouter pass defense if they wish to be successful. While success is possible, the odds are not in their favor. It is not time to get excited about this team yet.
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