Wildcats host Utah team finally crossing state line
Utah carries the momentum from one of the bigger victories in the school’s history when the Utes venture out of their home state for the first time this season to face Arizona today.
When coach Kyle Whittingham’s team knocked off thenNo. 5 Stanford 27-21 in Salt Lake City last weekend, it was the highest-ranked team the Utes had defeated at home.
Now Utah (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) must avoid a letdown against the Wildcats (3-2, 0-2).
UA, seeking its first conference victory, is playing its first home game in over a month and its only Tucson contest over a span of seven weeks.
Here are five things to watch when the Utes and Wildcats meet.
» UA’s ground game. The Wildcats found a passing game last week in a 38-31 loss at USC, but the team’s bread and butter is on the ground behind Ka’Deem Carey, who rushed for 206 yards (7.9 yards per carry) last year in Arizona’s 34-24 win at Utah.
“He did a number on us,” Whittingham said. “He’s a powerful kid — not the tallest kid in the world, but he’s about 210 pounds, extremely explosive, great vision. He’s a guy that can really change direction and is tough to tackle.”
The nation’s leading rusher a year ago, Carey is second in the Pac-12 and fourth in the nation this season, averaging 142 yards per game.
UA is second in the Pac-12 and 12th nationally in rushing at 262 yards per game. Utah is giving up 134 yards per game on the ground, third in the conference behind USC and Stanford.
» Out of Utah. Seven games into the season, the Utes will venture out of Utah for the first time.
Utah’s only road game has been up the highway to Provo against BYU. The Utes have played at home against Utah State, Weber State, Oregon State, UCLA and Stanford.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” Willingham said, “but