Northern Colorado
N/A0-0
Utah
9th PAC-125-7
Northern Colorado @ Utah preview
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Utah breaks in new offensive offensive coordinator Brian Johnson when it
opens the season Thursday against lower-level Northern Colorado. Norm
Chow departed to take Hawaii’s head coaching gig after last season and
Utes coach Kyle Whittingham promoted the former Utah quarterback after
conducting a national search. The 25-year-old Johnson went 26-7 as a
starter and was Most Valuable Player of the Sugar Bowl when Utah
defeated Alabama following the 2008 campaign. Current signal caller
Jordan Wynn is still experiencing trouble with his passing shoulder
after season-ending surgery last season. Northern Colorado suffered
through a winless campaign in Earnest Collins Jr.'s first season as
coach. Overall, the Bears have lost 18 of their last 19 games.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None
ABOUT UTAH (2011: 8-5, 4-5 Pac-12): The Utes finished last in the Pac-12 in total offense in their first year in the league and it will surely help if Wynn’s shoulder holds up. The junior quarterback passed for 17 touchdowns in 2010 before missing the final nine games last season. Senior John White seeks to equal a junior campaign in which he rushed for a school-record 1,519 yards and scored 17 total touchdowns. Senior receiver DeVonte Christopher (42 receptions) is Utah’s top target. The Utes will be strong on defense with seven returning starters back from one of the better units in the Pac-12. Senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei had 9.5 tackles for losses while being named the Pac-12’s top defensive lineman. Junior strong side linebacker Trevor Reilly (five sacks) is a solid pass rusher.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO (2011: 0-11, 0-8 Big Sky): Junior quarterback Seth Lobato passed for 2,448 yards last season – seventh best in school history – and figures to improve on those numbers this season. Lobato had 17 touchdowns and was intercepted 10 times. Junior receiver Jace Davis is back after missing last season because of academic reasons. Davis caught 53 passes for 992 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010. The defensive leader is junior middle linebacker Clarence Bumpas, who had 145 tackles last season and is on the Buck Buchanan watch list for top defensive player in the FCS.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Utah leads the series 2-0 but the last meeting was in 1937. Northern Colorado is 2-13 against Pac-12 teams.
2. The Utes will be without senior strong safety Brian Blechen (seven career interceptions), who is beginning a three-game suspension for violating team rules.
3. Northern Colorado allowed 31 or more points seven times last season.
PREDICTION: Utah 30, Northern Colorado 10
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None
ABOUT UTAH (2011: 8-5, 4-5 Pac-12): The Utes finished last in the Pac-12 in total offense in their first year in the league and it will surely help if Wynn’s shoulder holds up. The junior quarterback passed for 17 touchdowns in 2010 before missing the final nine games last season. Senior John White seeks to equal a junior campaign in which he rushed for a school-record 1,519 yards and scored 17 total touchdowns. Senior receiver DeVonte Christopher (42 receptions) is Utah’s top target. The Utes will be strong on defense with seven returning starters back from one of the better units in the Pac-12. Senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei had 9.5 tackles for losses while being named the Pac-12’s top defensive lineman. Junior strong side linebacker Trevor Reilly (five sacks) is a solid pass rusher.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO (2011: 0-11, 0-8 Big Sky): Junior quarterback Seth Lobato passed for 2,448 yards last season – seventh best in school history – and figures to improve on those numbers this season. Lobato had 17 touchdowns and was intercepted 10 times. Junior receiver Jace Davis is back after missing last season because of academic reasons. Davis caught 53 passes for 992 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010. The defensive leader is junior middle linebacker Clarence Bumpas, who had 145 tackles last season and is on the Buck Buchanan watch list for top defensive player in the FCS.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Utah leads the series 2-0 but the last meeting was in 1937. Northern Colorado is 2-13 against Pac-12 teams.
2. The Utes will be without senior strong safety Brian Blechen (seven career interceptions), who is beginning a three-game suspension for violating team rules.
3. Northern Colorado allowed 31 or more points seven times last season.
PREDICTION: Utah 30, Northern Colorado 10