After their biggest win in recent memory over then-No.5 Stanford, Utah suffered a hangover loss to Arizona on the road. But after a week of recovery, the Utes are ready to party at the Coliseum this Saturday against USC.
“We’ve had two good days in a row now and the attitude is very positive and it needs to be,” said head coach Kyle Whittingham after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re on track so far this week. We were upset about the game on [last] Saturday and that takes a little bit of time to get out of your system.”
In last weekend’s loss, nothing seemed work in Utah’s favor. They came out uninspired and allowed the Wildcats to run the score up to 20-7 in the first half. Quarterback Travis Wilson threw two interceptions before coming out with a hand injury and Utes’ kicker Andy Phillips missed his first and second field goal attempts of the season.
All week there were questions as to who will be leading Utah’s offense against the Trojans. Wednesday’s practice provided answers.
Wilson was on the field and making good throws and Whittingham was hopeful that his progression would continue throughout the week.
“[Wilson] threw better than yesterday and if we get the same progress the next couple of days, he should be 100 percent,” Whittingham said. “That’s what we’re hoping for—optimistic.”
Wearing a glove on his throwing hand for protection and a better grip, Wilson seemed to have no doubts that he would be the starter this weekend. The Southern California native says that he is looking forward to seeing familiar faces in the crowd.
“I got a lot of family down there, a lot of people coming to the game,” Wilson said. “It’s gonna be a great environment and I’m really excited to play down there.”
Wilson said that one key to winning the battle in the Coliseum will be keeping Utah’s defense off the field. He’ll be looking to improve on his 3 of 15 performance that netted 15 yards, one touchdown and two picks from a week ago.
It certainly won’t be an easy task against USC’s ferocious D. They rank at the top of the Pac-12 in total defense. But USC has been hampered by injury on both sides of the ball.
Four of USC’s top six performers in receiving are either out or questionable for Saturday’s game, including receiver Marquise Lee and running back Tre Madden. Madden has the Trojans’ most rushing yards and third most receiving yards. Whittingham, however, says he does not feel sorry for USC.
“No sympathy from me or anyone else and we don’t expect sympathy from anybody else,” Whittingham said. “I can’t stand people, not that they’re crying about injuries, but that’s just part of the game. Pretty much everyone in the country, especially this time of year, are pretty banged up.”
Despite the injuries to some key players, USC is a seven-point favorite in this weekends contest with the Utes. The Trojans are heavily favorited by history as well. Utah only been victorious in one of the last ten games against USC dating back to 1916, the last time Utah won a game in the Coliseum. Whittingham likes those odds, though.
“Well maybe that’s a good thing,” Whittingham said. “Law of averages I guess.”