Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 8: Oregon, USC, Arizona State Rise, Stanford Falls
Saturday Blitz Pac 12 Power Rankings Week 8
Say what you want about the Utah Utes, but they just keep winning. It is the complete opposite of the way other Pac-12 teams are winning, but so what? These guys are 5-1 right now and should be undefeated. The only reason we have not ranked them higher is because the loss to Washington State looks like a bad loss now, and it’s something we can’t ignore. But 5-1 is 5-1, and the Utes control their own destiny to win the Pac-12.
Instead of relying on a dominant passing game to win games, the Utes once again allowed running back Devontae Booker and that tough offensive line to lead them to victory. This is what they have done all year, and it doesn’t matter that their passing game is ranked 101st in the country. In fact, Travis Wilson barely throws the ball, but the Utes still win with tough defense and running. You’ve got to appreciate that in a conference that’s all about basketball scores.
Now, though, the brutal stretch for the Utes begins. Can they keep this up against USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Stanford, and Arizona? Those are their next five games, and in that time we’ll find out if Kyle Whittingham’s team is a contender or a pretender.
We believe they are contender, which is why they are in our Pac 12 Top 5.