Utah -3 buy 1/2 -125 4% play
Utah is 0-7 @ USC, but honestly they should have won here 2 years ago without their starting QB Tyler Huntley as they fell by just 1 point. Last year at home they dominated USC 41-28, and it wasn't even close. Utah has plenty of things to point to in that game that should keep them motivated for this game. They gave up a passing TD to JT Daniels who threw it into double coverage for a TD to go up 7-0, which would not happen 90% of the time. Utah then fumbled, and it was returned for a TD and USC was up 14-0 on Utah's home turf. Utah then took control of the game, but still had costly errors when they muffed a punt, and had a punt blocked which led to another 7 points.
Now there are differences between last year's USC offense and this year's as they are running more of an air raid offense with Graham Harrel as the OC, but they are on a third string QB, and Slovis looked great vs. Stanford, but Stanford got torched by running man to man defense, and they just don't have the speed to keep up. Against BYU last week Slovis threw 3 interceptions as BYU gave them a lot of zone looks. Now there is man and zone coverage schemes on film for Kyle Whittingham and this talented Utah defense. I think we see a mix, and Utah will stop the running game as they have one of the best defensive lines in college football. I think Utah puts in on the shoulders of Slovis who is not ready for this. USC's offensive line has done a fine job protecting Slovis ranking 39th in pass protection, but they are going to have to be better than that. Stanford, and BYU don't exactly get after the QB ranking 103rd, and 97th in sack %. Utah ranks 48th. USC has turned the ball over 8 times, and Utah is +4 in TO Margin, which is going to decide this game tonight.
USC's defense does not scare me at all. Utah is 17-2 when they run for 200+ yards over the last 4 seasons. Zach Moss has run wild so far this season and he has 371 yards rushing in his career against USC and over 5.4 yards per carry. He doesn't have a rushing TD against USC, and that should fuel him here. Tyler Huntley also should have a big day after throwing for 340 yards on USC last year, and the running game is there if he needs it as well as USC gave up 80+ yards to Fresno State's QB. Fresno ran for 200+ yards against USC at home to open the season, and Fresno since had just 57 yards rushing against Minnesota. There are signs pointing to a bad USC run defense which is not a good sign with Moss coming to town.
Kyle Whittingham is a far better coach than Clay Helton. I know Helton is coaching for his job, but Whittingham is coaching to bring Utah to the PAC 12 Championship in back to back years, and possibly a college football playoff spot. It's a huge game for a team that hasn't won at USC, but lets be honest this is not the old USC. Utah nearly won here 2 years ago without their QB. This passing offense is much improved since then, and probably Whittingham's best to go along with a defense that is just as good as always. Special teams under Whittingham has always been great, and expect a focus on that in this game after their struggles in the USC game a year ago.
