The 2-0 Utes head back home this Saturday to face the San Jose State Spartans. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. MDT.
Here are six numbers to know before the Utes head into Pac-12 conference play.
389
Tyler Huntley was the shining star in the Utes’ win over rival BYU. Huntley amassed 389 total yards with 300 coming through the air. It is no secret, Utah will rely heavily on Huntley to be the playmaker on offense, but a cause for concern has to be the number of hits BYU put on Huntley throughout the game. Look for Utah to try to protect its most valuable asset a little more against the Spartans.
23
Huntley and the rest of the Ute offense should get plenty of repetitions this week as the Spartan defense can’t seem to get off the field. In San Jose State’s first three games, its offense has been on the field for only 23 minutes per game, while leaving its defense on for long stretches at a time. With a mobile quarterback in Huntley, San Jose State’s defense better trade its football cleats for some running shoes and perhaps a water bottle or two. Look for Utah to methodically control this game and look for a few big plays in the second half.
37
The Spartans are 1-2 on the year. Their most recent loss came against the University of Texas, in which the Longhorns won 56-0. A lot of points given up have been the constant trend so far for this Spartan defense. It is allowing 37 points a game through the first three contests. The Spartan opposition is scoring, and in bunches; San Jose State’s defense is allowing five touchdowns a game to start the season. To add insult to injury, the Spartan offense is only scoring 18.7 points per game. Look for Utah to build a comfortable lead in the first half.
7
Part of the Spartans' defensive woes is due to their lackluster offensive and special team play. San Jose State has turned the ball over seven times in the first three games. Both of San Jose State’s turnovers last week against the Longhorns were costly. An interception returned for a touchdown and a fumble on the kickoff, which also led to a touchdown, added insult to injury to the struggling Spartans. Five of the Spartans' seven turnovers have led to scoring drives by the opposition.
22
It is a new week but the same story for this Ute team. Total penalties are the Achilles heel so far in the team’s first two games. The Utes have been consistent; they have received 11 penalties a game in each of the first two contests. Utah is the seventh most penalized team in the nation, a far cry from any distinction worthy for laudable praise. Utah can’t afford to keep getting costly penalties with conference play right around the corner.
305.7
Utah’s ground game was almost nonexistent against the Cougars last week. Tyler Huntley gained 89 yards on the ground, including a touchdown early in the second half. However, the other three ball carriers earned only 27 yards on 17 total carries. Utah will have plenty of opportunities to figure out the run game against the awful San Jose State rush defense. The Spartans have allowed 305.7 rush yards per game and 11 touchdowns on the ground. The Longhorns ran all over the field last week, earning a total of 406 yards on 59 total attempts. The Utes should be able to exploit the run defense and control the line of scrimmage throughout the game.
Prediction: Utah runs away with a game very much in its control. Utah 37 San Jose State 13.
Bonus prediction: Two Utes will rush for more than 100 yards rushing.
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.