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UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Utah Utes

By Mike Regalado

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes watches practice prior to their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes watches practice prior to their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 7: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes hold the ball for kicker place kicker Matt Gay #97 during the second half of an college football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 7, 2017 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 7: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes hold the ball for kicker place kicker Matt Gay #97 during the second half of an college football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 7, 2017 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) /

Utah Special Teams

Utah has not only done a great job with their defense, but they have an incredible special teams unit. Did I write incredible? I mean astonishingly incredible.

The Utes just might have the best punter in the country (though don’t sleep on UCLA’s Stefan Flintoft). Mitch Wishnowsky won the Ray Guy Award for best punter in the nation in 2016 and even though he did not repeat that in 2017, he was still at the top of his game. Last season, Utah was first in net punting average in the conference with 42.2 yards per kick.

Matt Gay is another specialist that has some hardware to his name as he won the Lou Groza Award last season for the best kicker in the nation. In 2017 he went 30/34 and nailed 19 field goals from 40 yards or more with a long of 56. If Utah can’t get points on the ground, then they will get them with FGs. But will this all be enough to once again down the Bruins?

Final Analysis

With both teams having holes in their squad, it seems like the advantage should go to the home team, but Utah has had UCLA’s number at the Rose Bowl the last few meetings. Though it should be a lot closer than their battle in the SLC last year, I can’t help but think that Whittingham and his Utes should be a well-oiled machine at this point in the season.

Next. UCLA Football: 10 bold predictions for the 2018 season. dark

That is not to say the Bruins will not be at the top of their game as well, but Utah has a bit more experience and will be determined to show the South that they are hungry to win their first Division title.

Prediction

Utah 36 – UCLA 35