Utah RB John White needs 127 yards rushing against Colorado to hit 1,000 for the season. (US Presswire) |
Utah (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) at Colorado (1-10, 1-7 Pac-12)
Kickoff: Friday, 3 p.m. ET (FX)
Spread: Utah by 22.5
Watchability: Low. If your plan's to watch every Pac-12 game this weekend, but you have to miss one of them, this is the one you want to sacrifice.
Shining Stars: Colorado -- RB Christian Powell. Powell's the only Buffaloes running back or wide receiver that's totaled more than 350 yards this season. If Utah's smart, they'll focus on stopping Powell and make someone else beat them. Utah -- RB John White. White needs 127 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, and there's a good chance that happens Friday. White will be going against a Colorado run defense that allows 227.6 rushing yards per game, the sixth worst total nationally.
Who could steal the show: Colorado -- QB Nick Hirschman. Colorado has been waiting all season for one of its quarterbacks to steal the show, but it hasn't happened. But the Buffs' last hope might be their best one. In Hirschman's only start this season, he was 12 of 13 for 123 yards before being knocked out of the game with a concussion against Arizona. Utah -- DL Joe Kruger. Kruger has six sacks and that might increase when he goes against a Colorado offensive line that's allowed the second most sacks in the country (47).
You going? Ranking the road trip: Two teams playing for pride isn't usually our idea of a great road trip. But it's Utah's first visit to Boulder, Colo., since 1961. So if you were at that game and enjoyed yourself, by all means make the return trip.
Magic number for Colorado: 1920. The Buffs haven't gone winless at home in 92 years. They are 0-5 heading into Friday's season finale.
Magic number for Utah: 2002. This isn't a magic number for Utah, it's a sad number: 2002 was the last time the Utes didn't make a bowl game. Utah's bowl streak will end at nine years. The streak was the 13th longest in the nation going into 2012.
The game comes down to: Ute RB White. It's White's last game in a Utah uniform, and he'll be going up against one of the worst rushing defenses in the country. Expect White to run wild, and expect Utah to win big if he does.
Prediction: Utah 35, Colorado 10
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