Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Utah 2018

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 7: Head coach of the Utah Utes Kyle Whittingham talk to his players during the first 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) /

Prediction

When Wilton Speight replacing DTR against Arizona, the grad transfer did a decent job of leading the offense. The only problem was that he brought a different flow to the game which changed the dynamic. Not by a lot, but the Bruins have been used to the freshman running things.

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I have no doubt that Speight will figure out how to get yards and points if he has the conch, but if DTR is good to go, Kelly should go with the player that he has been riding (and helped his offense improve) all season long.

As noted above, UCLA has to get their run game going. Utah is really good at stopping the rushing attack which is why Kelly has to throw in new wrinkles, formations, and looks. This is something he is accustomed to, but he has to find weaknesses in the Utah line. If he cannot, game over, man!

And who knows which UCLA defense will show up. The Bruins have been tested against really good offenses this season and they have held their own. And then they faced a mediocre Arizona offense and got ran over for nearly 300 yards. If they allow this against Utah, then it is game over, part 2.

UCLA needs to play a near-perfect game. The offense needs to play fast and put together consistent drives. The defense needs to puff out their chest and knock Utah back a few yards. They can’t squander field position and special teams need to help out when they are called upon.

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With that being said, even the tiny mistake could cost the Bruins and I think there will be a few of those which will shift the game in Utah’s favor.

Prediction: Utah 35 – UCLA 14