Utah Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2021
By Austin Lloyd
5. USC (L)
Things will get rougher for Utah at right about this point in the schedule. This game will be in L.A. Memorial Coliseum, and the Utes have yet to down the Trojans in enemy territory within the last century. And predicting this game as a Utah loss will not just be left to history, either. Last year, USC handled the Utes rather trivially, snatching a 33-17 win in Salt Lake City.
While it is a safe bet to say that their 2021 meeting will be more of a nail-biter, Utah should still be expected to take their first fall of the season here.
Record: 4-1 (1-1)
6. Arizona State (L)
Sun Devils head coach Herm Edwards has made Arizona State a noticeable contender in the Pac-12 South throughout his tenure. The Sun Devils are not great, but they can play some nasty football when they need to, and Utah is no stranger to taking that hit.
This matchup would be a trap game no matter where it was placed on the schedule, but after a heartbreaking loss at USC? The Utes practically have “loser” stamped on their foreheads already.
Record: 4-2 (1-2)
7. Oregon State (W)
Following a pair of crucial losses that will most definitely kick Utah out of the race for the Pac-12 South crown, the Utes will need a punching bag to take out all of their anger on. And with that said, here come the Oregon State Beavers.
The Beavers have been a Pac-12 cellar-dweller for quite some time now, and have shown very little improvement in the last couple of seasons. Utah has not lost to Oregon State in what is going on to be eight years, and the streak shall continue onward with little-to-no effort on behalf of the Utes.
Record: 5-2 (2-2)
8. UCLA (W)
The Bruins have had very little success with current head coach Chip Kelly, and if he does not scavenge any relevance for them in 2021, his firing could and should be a done deal. As far as the game against Utah goes, it will take place in Salt Lake City, the Utes will be feeling good after a Beaver beatdown, and UCLA has lost their last three games of this series by no less than 31 points each time. This one will be an absolute walk in the park for Utah.
Record: 6-2 (3-2)