2011 Utah Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

2011 will mark the first year the Utah Utes compete in the newly formed PAC-12, which also added the University of Colorado this season. The Utes come over from the Mountain West Conference. In 2010 the Utes finished second in the MWC with a 7-1 conference record. They ended the season with a disappointing 26-3 loss to Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl, but still finished the season with an overall record of 10-3. While the level of competition will be much tougher in the PAC-12, Utah could have a distinct advantage in their home games with the high altitudes of Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah will have to make due in their inaugural season in the PAC-12 with just 12 returning starters, including only five on a defense that held opponents to 20.3 ppg. To give you a better idea of what the Utes will look like this season, I have broken down both sides of the ball, plus added my prediction on where I see them finishing the conference.

Offense:

One advantage the Utes have is they bring back an experience signal caller in junior Jordan Wynn, who is coming off an impressive sophomore season. Wynn completed 62.2% of his passes for 2,334 yards with 17 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. The one concern I have with Wynn is outside of a nice game to start the year against Pittsburgh he really didn’t play that well against the better teams out of his conference. If Utah is going to be a threat in the PAC-12 this season, Wynn has to play at an extremely high level.

Making things even hard on Wynn will be the loss of the top two rushing attacks from 2010 in Eddie Wide (717 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Matt Asiata (695 yards, 8 touchdowns). They do bring in some interesting options for the 2011 season. Freshman Harvey Langi was one of their top recruits and is considered the favorite to be the starter. He does figure to get some competition from junior college transfer John White and sophomore Thretton Palamo, who was a standout rugby player. If these new faces don’t deliver the Utes will struggle to move the ball offensively.

At wide receiver the Utes lose Jereme Brooks and Shaky Smithson, but bring back junior DeVonte Christopher, who led the team with 660 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Also back is junior Luke Matthews, who was fourth on the team with 289 yards and tied for third with three touchdowns. Senior Dexter Ransom and juinors Anthony Denham and Dallin Rogers will compete for playing time in bigger formations.

Utah has three starters back on the offensive line, but overall this unit isn’t quite up to par with the standard in the PAC-12. They return senior tackles John Cullen and Tony Bergstrom, along with talented junior center Tevita Stevens. Junior sam Brenner and sophomore Percy Taumoelau look like they will take over at the two guard spots, after serving as backups last year.

Defense:

I believe the biggest challenge for the Utes will be keeping up with the speed of the PAC-12 on the defensive side of the ball. Whether or not they do will depend on what they get out of their starting front four. They bring back senior defensive end Derrick Shelby and senior defensive tackle James Aiono. Sophomore Joe Kruger and junior college transfer tevita Finau will compete at the other end spot, while junior Star Lotulelei holds down the other tackle spot alongside Aiono.

The strength of the defense will come at the three linebacker spots, as they return all three starters from 2010. Senior middle linebacker Chaz Walker and senior outside linebacker Matt Martinez should be two of the top linebackers at their position in the PAc-12. They also have a solid young outside linebacker in sophomore Brian Blechen, who tied for fourth in tackles last year with 67 and led the team with four interceptions.

Things don’t look so good in the secondary, as the Utes have to find a new starter at all four positions. Senior Conroy Black and junior Ryan Lacy are the leading candidates to take over at the two corner spots, while junior Keith McGill and redshirt freshman Damian Payne look to step in at free and strong safety. Even if these guys play better than anticipated you have to expect them to make some mistakes with the lack of experience.

PAC-12 Prediction: 5th PAC-12 South – I’m not exactly sure what to expect from the Utes in the PAC-12, but my initial thought is they are going struggle to play at the same level that we are use to seeing in the MWC. It will come down to how well the defense adjusts against the much better offenses, and if Wynn can continue to play at the same level.

PAC-12 Football Predictions by Team
Oregon Football Predictions	Utah Football Predictions
Oregon State Football Predictions	USC Football Predictions
California Football Predictions	UCLA Football Predictions
Stanford Football Predictions	Colorado Football Predictions
Washington Football Predictions	Arizona Football Predictions
Washington State Football Predictions	Arizona State Football Predictions

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions	Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions	Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions	SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions	Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions	Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions	WAC Football Predictions

Comments

Got something to say?