Utes and Wildcats Pac 12 Battle in the Desert

It may not be desperados and a posse in a shootout, but both Utah and Arizona will be trying to notch another Pac-12 win Saturday. Utah will be trying to get another win to get one win closer to being bowl eligible, and gain better standing in the Pac 12 South Division.

Arizona will be trying to salvage a season and some pride. Utah and Arizona have a long history of playing each other with Utah leading the series 19-15-2. Utah and Arizona were both charter members of the Western Athletic Conference in 1962. The two schools competed in the same league until 1978 when Arizona bolted for the Pac-10. Utah was in the WAC until 1998 and the Mountain West until 2010.

Both schools have met since parting ways playing in both in Salt Lake City and Tucson. One of the more memorable meetings was in the 1994 Freedom Bowl where Utah won the game against the defense known as "The Desert Swarm." Utah didn't play particularly well, but beat the Wildcats 16-13.

Utah owns a two game streak on the last home and home series in 2004-2005. Both teams are looking for conference win number two. Given how both teams have been playing, this game is a toss up, but the Utes have the edge with a better win record at 4-4 with Arizona at 2-6.

Both teams have played three common opponents to this date in Southern California, Oregon State, and Washington. Utah is 1-2 against these schools, beating Oregon State last week 27-8. Arizona is 0-3 against the same opponents.

Key to winning the game for Utah will be to get the ball to John White IV often to get the running game going. Jon Hays will have to step up the passing game enough to take pressure off the defense and score in the red zone. The offensive line will need to give Hays the time he needs by protecting him so he has time to pass on the key plays.

Utah's defense will need to continue to be tough, make big plays, and look to cause turnovers. Utah will have to avoid turnovers on both ends of the ball. As always in the Pac-12, turnovers will kill a team and Utah is the Jekyll and Hyde of turnovers this season.

Still look for the Utes to hopefully keep lessons learned on the field in tact and come out of Tucson with their first Pac-12 road win.