Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Utah Football: Will Utes live up to lofty preseason 2019 hype?

By Jake Mitchell

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Javelin K. Guidry #28 and Leki Fotu #99 of the Utah Utes celebrate after Guidry intercepted a pass against the Washington Huskies during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Javelin K. Guidry #28 and Leki Fotu #99 of the Utah Utes celebrate after Guidry intercepted a pass against the Washington Huskies during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Orlando Umana #50, Jason Shelley #15, Darrin Paulo #77 of the Utah Utes congratulate Jake Jackson #44 of the Utah Utes after his touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half of The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 31, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Orlando Umana #50, Jason Shelley #15, Darrin Paulo #77 of the Utah Utes congratulate Jake Jackson #44 of the Utah Utes after his touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half of The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 31, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

How will the Utes fare in 2019?

  • Week 1: at BYU (Aug. 29)
  • Week 2: Northern Illinois (Sept. 7)
  • Week 3: Idaho State (Sept. 14)
  • Week 4: at USC (Sept. 20)
  • Week 5: Washington State (Sept. 28)
  • Week 6: BYE
  • Week 7: at Oregon State (Oct. 12)
  • Week 8: Arizona State (Oct. 19)
  • Week 9: California (Oct. 26)
  • Week 10: at Washington (Nov. 2)
  • Week 11: BYE
  • Week 12: UCLA (Nov. 16)
  • Week 13: at Arizona (Nov. 23)
  • Week 14: Colorado (Nov. 30)

The opening Thursday night matchup is an exciting one. The rivalry between Utah and BYU lives up to the Holy War moniker, and the passion is always high. The Utes are the better team, but going on the road to Provo will be a dangerous matchup.

Beyond that opener, the road schedule is light. Yes, the trip to Washington is tough, but road games at Arizona, Oregon State and USC are not very daunting at all.

Prediction: 10-2, 7-2 Pac-12

The Utes return a large amount of experience from a team that won nine games last year. They play an easier schedule than a year ago, and the returning players will be a year better and smarter.

Utah is capable of winning 10 games, but they still do face a couple obstacles. Going on the road to play Chris Petersen’s Washington Huskies is not an easy task. Also, hosting Washington State in September could be a tough one.

Next. College football's top 50 fanbases. dark

The Utes aren’t quite a playoff team in 2019, but they are a few key wins away from that status.

Home/Utah Utes