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Amid byes and weeknight games, this is the first Saturday of the football season when Utah, BYU and Utah State are playing in three separate games, and it will happen only twice more — Nov. 12 and 19.
Of course, it would be asking too much for the three teams' games to be staggered, so everyone could get a full look at each of them. The teams have plenty of motivation, that's for sure. In terms of realistic hopes for winning a division title, Utah has the most to play for Saturday, hosting Arizona. In regard to pursuing bowl eligibility, Utah State faces the most critical moment of its season so far at Colorado State. And in the sense of national credibility, BYU really could use a victory over the Big Ten's Michigan State.
A closer look at the three games, in chronological order:
BYU at Michigan State, 1:30 p.m. MDT
Michigan State is not the same team as Michigan, which is a good thing for the Cougars. Then again, MSU's defense historically is better than Michigan's, and that's bad for BYU. Anyone who witnessed BYU's futile offensive effort at Michigan last September (as I did) would be scarred by the experience. The Cougars topped the 100-yard mark in total offense only on the last play of the game — a run by Francis Bernard, who's now a linebacker.
The Cougars now have Jamaal Williams, who's coming off a school-record 286-yard performance against Toledo. He also was held to 28 yards by UCLA, and MSU's defense will look a lot more like UCLA's than Toledo.
The only asterisk is the absence of MSU defensive tackle Malik McDowell in the first half, due to a targeting ejection last week against Indiana. The Spartans still have plenty of Big Ten athletes and will load up against the run, as UCLA did. So quarterback Taysom Hill must have some passing success for the Cougars to move the ball consistently.
On the other side, BYU's defense is geared to deal with a traditional Big Ten offense, but the Spartans are capable of throwing the ball with quarterback Tyler O'Connor and won't force the running game if it's not working.
Judging by losses to Wisconsin and Indiana, MSU clearly is not the same team that appeared in the College Football Playoff last season, but the Spartans still have very good personnel.
The pick: Michigan State 28, BYU 21.
Arizona at Utah, 8 p.m. MDT
If the Utes published an injury report, which they don't do, it would be "a full sheet," coach Kyle Whittingham said this week. Arizona does issue such a list, and it's a long one — informing everyone of the potential for the Wildcats' top two quarterbacks to miss the game.
Utah's offensive line is subject to reshuffling, but the Utes should be able to piece together a group that's strong enough to thrive against Arizona's defense.
The Wildcats' offense has had considerable success against the Utes under coach Rich Rodriguez, accounting for his four-game winning streak in the series. But if Arizona comes to Rice-Eccles Stadium without much of a passing threat, the Utes should be able to solve the problem.
The pick: Utah 35, Arizona 21.
Utah State at Colorado State, 8 p.m. MDT
USU quarterback Kent Myers insisted the Aggies are not out of their division race in the Mountain West with an 0-2 record, and that's technically true. The reality is the Aggies still have to play San Diego State, and division-leading Boise State is unlikely to lose more than one conference game.
So the real issue for USU (2-3) at this point is bowl eligibility, and beating CSU is critical. With a loss to the Rams, USU would be 2-4 with SDSU and BYU to come, basically allowing no room for error in hopes of finishing 6-6.
The Aggies have struggled to run the ball without the injured Devante Mays, and will need consistent production from Myers. The good news is that CSU's offense has had trouble sustaining anything against the Aggie defense in recent years — even though the Rams won 16-13 in Fort Collins in 2014.
The pick: Utah State 21, Colorado State 17.
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