We get one more dose of #Pac12AfterDark action as Washington football and Utah square off in Santa Clara in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday night.
When they met earlier this season in Salt Lake City, Washington took down Utah 21-7 on the road. But it would be foolish to read too much into that performance for either side, as they each have dealt with injuries and boast far different form than they brought into the September contest.
Washington took down state rival Washington State in a snow Apple Cup in Pullman to snatch their second Pac-12 North title in the past three years. The Huskies field a veteran offense led by senior running back Myles Gaskin, who has posted three straight 100-yard rushing games, and senior quarterback Jake Browning. They fuel an attack that averages only 28 points per game, but they also benefit from a defense that gives away an average of fewer than 17 points.
Utah, meanwhile, heads to Santa Clara with a new starter at quarterback from the last time they played the Huskies. Tyler Huntley broke his collarbone in the loss to Arizona State, opening the door for redshirt freshman Jason Shelley to take charge of the Utes offense. Utilized mostly as a passer for his first few games, Shelley demonstrated his dual-threat chops in a Holy War win over BYU and will be the key cog for Utah on Friday.
Washington has momentum on their side, and they have the experience of winning the conference title just two years ago. Can Utah flip the script at the home of the San Francisco 49ers? Here’s how you can watch the Pac-12 championship game on Friday night between Washington and Utah:
Date: Friday, Nov. 30
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
Venue: Levi’s Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go | FuboTV
Keys to Victory
Utah needs to give their kickers and punters far better protection than they have so far this year. The Utes rank 126th nationally in blocked kicks allowed, as opponents have knocked down a half-dozen of their attempted kicks this season. They are also 125th in blocked punts allowed, with teams getting to three of them so far in 2018. Jason Shelley is obviously a player to watch, but his work will be for nought if the Utes cough up field position.
Speaking of field position, Washington’s biggest Achilles heel in 2018 has been their special teams. The return units severely miss players like Dante Pettis, the career leader in punt return touchdowns at the FBS level. They have also struggled to contain teams when they kick the ball away, both on punts and kickoffs. The Huskies cannot afford to give away too much field position to the Utes if they hope to claim a second title in three years.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of oddsshark.com
Point Spread: Washington -5.5
Over/Under: 44.5
Prediction
This game will result in a relatively straightforward victory for the Huskies. Washington will challenge a Utah team ranked fifth in the FBS in rushing defense, as Gaskin puts up another big game as he winds down his college career. Jake Browning will throw for at least 200 yards to balance out the offense, and Chris Petersen’s team will earn its way to their first Rose Bowl appearance since 2001.
Final Score: Washington 41, Utah 21