Vegas Pac 12 Predictions Week 11: Why Utah will Upset Oregon and Notre Dame will Beat Arizona State

Nov 1, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Oregon Ducks at No. 17 Utah Utes

Pac 12 Game of the Week

Line: Oregon by 8

Saturday Blitz Vegas Pac 12 Prediction: Utah Wins 23-21

Let’s see, who is another team that has a good offensive line, can stop the run, sack the quarterback, and simply win the battle in the trenches? That’s right, it’s Arizona, the one team who beat Oregon this year.

Want to hear a scary fact? With a top 40 rush offense, top 30 rush defense, and the No. 1 team in the country in team sacks with 39, Utah is far better in the trenches than Arizona. And they are playing the Oregon Ducks at home. Advantage: Utah.

The game would be heavily in Utah’s favor if Oregon’s three offensive linemen were still injured, but it won’t matter. Marcus Mariota also showed that he is pathetic under pressure, and the Utes will be able to apply it all day. And it will lead to an upset for Kyle Whittinggam’s team.

The open competition for starting quarterback between Kendal Thompson and Travis Wilson is irrelevant. Devontae Booker is going to run over, around, and through this defense enough for them to win. Utah is being taken way too lightly this week after a close loss last week, and Oregon is being too overhyped.

That means the Utes will be motivated to win this game, and Oregon will have its mind on other things, mainly looking ahead and thinking about the College Football Playoff. Combining those two factors along with the match-ups that favor the Utes and the fact that the game is in Utah will all be enough for the Utes to pull off a close win.

Next: Notre Dame-Arizona State Prediction