Vegas Pac 12 Predictions Week 13: USC-UCLA, Arizona-Utah, & More

Nov 15, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats place kicker Casey Skowron (41) is congratulated by wide receiver Austin Hill (29) after kicking the winning field goal against the Washington Huskies at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Arizona Wildcats at No. 17 Utah Utes

Line: Utah by 4

Saturday Blitz Vegas Pac 12 Prediction: Arizona Wins 27-21

There are reasons for the Arizona Wildcats to be underdogs this week, and Utah’s physical style of football is something that could lead it to lots of wins against Pac-12 teams. This won’t be one of them.

Rich Rodriguez, unlike many of the teams in his conference, has a great offensive line put together that will neutralize that dominant Utah defensive line. And on defense, he has a line led by Scooby Wright that is made up of undersized players who know how to get leverage and stop the run and pick up sacks. That’s going to be the difference.

The Utes will try to use Devontae Booker as much as possible, but the best way to beat Arizona will be by screens to him. They won’t be able to run it that much. Meanwhile, Anu Solomon at quarterback will have his favorite target at receiver, Cayleb Jones, as a huge mismatch on the outside that Utah can’t defend. And Nick Wilson has been running incredibly well over the past two weeks, so he will only add to that this weekend. Terris Jones-Grigsby may be a no-go, but he won’t be needed.

Arizona wins and stays in the Pac-12 South and College Football Playoff race as well, setting up an epic showdown between them and Arizona state next week.

Next: Stanford-California Prediction