Rick Bowmer

Sneak peek: Oregon vs. Utah

When: Saturday, 2:45 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene

Records: Oregon (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12); Utah (4-3, 1-3)

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Utes this season

The Utes, in coach Kyle Whittingham’s 14th season, began 4-0 against North Dakota, Brigham Young, San Jose State and Arizona before following with losses to Stanford and USC by a combined four points, and a 30-10 home loss to Arizona State last Saturday. Under first-year offensive coordinator Troy Taylor, who arrived from Eastern Washington with a wide-open spread passing attack, the Utes are averaging 37 more passing yards than last season, though the early October injury to starting quarterback Tyler Huntley contributed to recent struggles. Following the loss against Arizona State, in which Huntley returned from injury and threw four interceptions, Whittingham said that "right now we have no identity on offense." Running back Zach Moss averages a team-high 76.3 yards on the ground, and former Oregon receiver Darren Carrington (see, Star Power) ranks 21st nationally with 92.7 receiving yards per contest. Utah’s defense is once again a stingy, physical unit that ranks 14th nationally in pass defense and has allowed 21.4 points per game while forcing 18 turnovers, the fifth-best mark in the FBS. And in yet another familiar sight, the special teams are excellent. Matt Gay, who has made 89.5 percent of his kicks and made ESPN and Sporting News' midseason All-America teams, makes a nation-leading 2.4 field goals per game. Opposing punt returners average a loss of one yard, the nation’s second-best mark, in large part due to the skill of Australian punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who was a finalist for the Ray Guy award last year and led the nation in punt average in just his first season of college football. This season, Wishnowsky’s average punt of 46.6 yards is seventh.

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Rick Bowmer

Utah defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei has seven tackles this season.

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Star power

Wide receiver Darren Carrington. Carrington was dismissed by Oregon in July, weeks after his arrest on a DUII charge and only weeks before he was set to open his senior year as UO's top receiver. He quickly landed at Utah -- the school Carrington beat in 2016 with his last-minute touchdown catch in Salt Lake City -- where Whittingham promised he would be placed on a short leash, and has been a favorite target of Utah QBs Tyler Huntley and Troy Williams in Utah's more pass-friendly offense. He ranks 20th nationally with 649 yards and 22nd with 6.4 catches per game. Carrington also has five touchdowns.



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Did you know

Utah's 265 total yards against ASU were its fewest since 2014.

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Latest line

Utah opened as a 3 1/2-point favorite, according to Vegas Insider.

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Rick Bowmer

Arizona State linebacker DJ Calhoun sacks Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley on Saturday.

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Prediction

Oregon 21, Utah 20

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More coverage

Utes searching for answers offensively

Tyler Huntley's return didn't spark Utah's offense vs. ASU

10 takeaways from Oregon's loss at UCLA

Debating LaMichael James versus Royce Freeman

Pac-12 in the playoff? Odds are slim

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