Utah Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions for 2019

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks on in the third quarter of their 31-27 loss to the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on September 23, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

Coming into this matchup, Utah will be 3-0 and looking to prove itself as one of the nation’s top contenders and a favorite to win the Pac-12 South. The Trojans won’t be an easy win, though.

USC hasn’t forgotten that loss from a season ago when the Utes hosted the Trojans and put the rest of the conference on notice with a 13-point victory. Winning in the Coliseum won’t be so easy for Kyle Whittingham and Utah, but this is going to be one of the most important early-season games in the Pac-12 and the Utes will treat it as such.

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The Trojans will take an early lead and gain some momentum, getting the crowd into it, but Tyler Huntley won’t let the offense remain quiet as he’ll continue his connection with Britain Covey right before halftime, throwing the game-tying touchdown which will wipe out the USC’s lead.

The second half will be a back-and-forth battle but USC just doesn’t have the experience at quarterback that Utah does, and that’ll be the difference here.

JT Daniels will struggle in the final minutes, throwing a crucial pick which Jaylon Johnson will return into USC territory, leading to a game-clinching field goal.

Final Score: Utah 31, USC 28 (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12)

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