With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Utah Utes play host to the Oregon Ducks (Saturday, 12 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Network).
The Utes will also honor their 26 seniors as they prepare to play their final game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, here are the six numbers to get you prepared for the conference showdown.
1991
This Oregon team is on the wrong side of history. For the first time in 26 seasons, the Oregon Ducks have achieved seven losses. It is also their first losing season since 2004. The name “Oregon Ducks” just does not seem to hold the same connotations as from just a few years ago.
17
All credit goes to ESPN staff writer Kyle Bonagura, but this stat was too telling not to mention. If anyone was curious as to how unique (not in a good way) this Oregon team has been as compared to other recent years, from 2007-2015 the Ducks lost only three games by 17 points or more. They have now lost by more than 17 in four of their last six games.
50
Make no mistake, this Oregon team can still score the ball. They have scored 50 touchdowns in their 10 games. The offense averages just shy of 500 yards a game. The Ducks can definitely move the ball around the field and put points on the board. However, the defense has been atrocious. Over 10 games, Oregon has 43.5 points per game. In conference games, Oregon has allowed 49.4 ppg. Look for a high-scoring game Saturday.
62
Speaking of high-scoring games, Utah put up 62 points last year against the No. 13 Oregon Ducks. That was the most points the Utes had scored on an FBS team since 2010. One has to imagine that the boys on the offensive side of the ball are looking forward to this weekend. Look forward to seeing many touchdown celebrations.
32
One of those celebrating might be Joe Williams. Oregon has allowed 32 rushing touchdowns on the year. That is over three a game, and that is the most rushing touchdowns allowed in all the FBS. Williams is also 61 yards shy of eclipsing the 1000-yard plateau on the season. It is a safe bet that he will accomplish this on Saturday. On top of touchdowns, Oregon also allows a plethora of yards a game on the ground. The Duck defense yields 243 yards a game. Stanford ran all over this defense last Saturday, look for more of the same coming up.
11
The offense will not be the only side of the ball excited for Saturday. Utah racked up 11 sacks last week against Arizona State. FBS-leader Hunter Dimick earned five of those to give him 12 on the year. Oregon’s sack numbers are not outlandish, but the Ducks allow just enough that defensive fans should be tuning in as well. Oregon allows roughly 2.5 sacks a game. Look for the impressive Utah defense to add a few to that number.
Utah needs an impressive showing against this Oregon Ducks team. This is certainly not a game to look over as the Ducks can put points on the board in a hurry. With a running back like Royce Freeman, Utah’s defense could have its hands full. Look for a high-scoring game with lots of yards.
Prediction: Utah 45, Oregon 28
Cameron Wood is a graduate of Weber State University and a teacher and coach at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Utah. Email: cwood@stjosephutah.com. Follow on twitter @camwood03.