In Arizona’s first Big 12 conference game, the Wildcats are two-possession underdogs.
Arizona is a 13.5-point underdog for its first-ever Big 12 game against the 10th-ranked Utah Utes, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Wildcats are also 9.5-point underdogs, per BetMGM.
It’s the Wildcats’ second straight contest as underdogs; they were also 6.5-point underdogs in the final nonconference game against Kansas State last week. Arizona is 0-3 against the spread this season.
Arizona is set to face Utah after the Wildcats routed the Utes 42-18 last season in Tucson, which ended the UA’s six-game skid to Utah. Arizona hasn’t won in Salt Lake City since 2014. Arizona is 20-26-2 all-time against Utah.
Utah is coming off a 22-19 win over 14th-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater, the first victory for the Utes in Big 12 play. Utah out-rushed Oklahoma State, which has reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in running back Ollie Gordon II, 249 yards to 48. The Utes have the fourth-best rushing attack in the Big 12, averaging 206.3 yards per game. Utah running back Micah Bernard leads the conference with 456 yards on 66 carries.
Arizona has the second-worst rushing defense in the Big 12, surrendering an average of 178 yards per contest. The Wildcats have struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks this season. In three games this season, Arizona has allowed 279 yards on the ground to quarterbacks, including 240 yards combined against New Mexico and Kansas State.
Utah has two quarterbacks capable of breaking out for chunk runs. Longtime starter and seventh-year quarterback Cameron Rising, after missing the last two games with a hand injury, could potentially start against the Wildcats on Saturday; he has nearly 1,000 rushing yards in his Utah career. Freshman Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback and former BYU star Zach Wilson, started the last two games and broke out for a 48-yard run against Oklahoma State.
Utah also has one of the top pass-rushing units in the Big 12. Utah senior edge rusher Van Fillinger leads the Big 12 in sacks (5.5), with senior defensive end Connor O’Toole tied for eighth (2.5). Fillinger and O’Toole have combined for more sacks (8) than Arizona (6) as a team.
The disciplined Utes are tied for 36th in college football for penalty yards (162), while the Wildcats are 104th with 269 penalty yards.
Extra points
- Arizona received two votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Five teams from the Big 12 are ranked in the AP Top 25 for Week 5: Utah (10), Iowa State (18), Oklahoma State (20), BYU (22) and Kansas State (23). KSU fell 11 spots after losing 38-9 to BYU in Provo.
- Utah announced that it will wear red helmets, black jerseys and black pants against Arizona.
The Wildcat defense surrounds Utah running back Ja’Quinden Jackson in Arizona’s 42-18 Pac-12 win at Arizona Stadium last year.
