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The stakes don't get any higher than this in the Pac-12 South. With a loss to Arizona, the Utes opened the door for both SoCal teams to push for the division title, turning this week's matchup with UCLA a de facto playoff game. Making things tougher for Utah, Devontae Booker will undergo meniscus surgery and is questionable to return the rest of the season. Will the Utes keep their Pac-12 Championship hopes alive with a win? Or will the Bruins take advantage of an injury-ravaged Utah team? Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's game:
Quarterback
Travis Wilson had a solid outing against the Wildcats, completing 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Utah will need him at his best this week with Booker out, both passing and running the ball. The responsibility will fall on him to convert more of the short third down opportunities that Booker usually handles. He'll also be under more pressure to keep the Bruins from locking down on Joe Williams and Bubba Poole. The Bruins are third in the Pac-12 in pass defense, making this an even tougher test for Wilson.
True freshman Josh Rosen has been a first year phenomenon for the Bruins, leading the nation's 17th best total offense and 20th best passing offense. Rosen is completing 61 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns, 2,902 yards and seven interceptions to go along with a streak of 188 passes without an interception. Utah's secondary struggled last week against Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon without Reggie Porter on the field and looks to be in for another long day against Rosen.
Edge: UCLA
Running back
Losing Booker is absolutely devastating for the Utes for how much the team relies on him to produce and open up opportunities for other players on the offense. He's had 305 touches from scrimmage and 26.8 carries per game, both first in the nation. The next men up are Joe Williams, who had seven carrries for 37 yards against Arizona, and likely Bubba Poole who spent last season in the backfield before moving to slot receiver. UCLA is in the bottom half of the Pac-12 in defending the run, but it's hard to imagine Williams or Poole replacing what Booker does every Saturday.
UCLA rusher Paul Perkins rises to the level of Booker's importance and impact for his team, acting as the straw that stirs UCLA's offensive drink. Perkins averages six yards per carry, 108 yards per game and has 10 touchdowns this season. His 1,082 yards are fourth in the Pac-12 behind Royce Freeman, Christian McCaffrey and Booker. Utah's defense is stout against the run, allowing only 3.6 yards per carry, but Perkins has a clear edge here over the combo of Williams and Poole.
Edge: UCLA
Wide receivers
Along with Wilson, the receivers have an increased responsibility to shoulder the offensive workload with Booker out. Britain Covey led the team in catches last week with four for 68 yards, while Harrison Handley led the team in yardage with 69 yards and a touchdown after a 59 yard scoring play. Booker is second on the team this season in receptions with 37 and was a monster out of the backfield on third down, making Poole, Covey and Handley even more important as safety blankets on crucial downs.
Arizona's receivers torched Utah's secondary last week for 302 yards and three scores, dropping the Utes to ninth in the Pac-12 in pass defense. UCLA won't be any easier on Dominique Hatfield and company with Rosen distributing the ball. Jordan Payton is Rosen's favorite target with 64 catches for 903 yards and four touchdowns. Thomas Duarte leads the team with eight touchdowns and Devin Fuller is a reliable third option. The Bruins get the nod here.
Edge: UCLA
Offensive line
A normally stout Utah offensive line struggled against Arizona's pressure, giving up four sacks on Wilson. Siaosi Aiono is listed as first on the depth chart after starting last week in Tucson and will be another week removed from injury. UCLA is middling in the Pac-12 in terms of producing pressure, but the Utes will need to be extra efficient in pass protection with the loss of Booker and a six sack performance from the Bruins against Wazzu last week.
UCLA held up well against Washington State last week, keeping Rosen clean for the duration of the game. The Bruins have been the most efficient team in the Pac-12 in pass protection by a healthy margin, allowing only 10 sacks all year with Utah second at 16 in the Pac-12. The Utes weren't able to bring Arizona's quarterbacks down last week and will be hard pressed to harass Rosen this week.
Edge: UCLA
Defensive line and linebackers
Filipo Mokofisi is back listed as a starter in Utah's latest depth chart and Hunter Dimick is in the two deep list behind Kylie Fitts, but both could be at less than 100 percent against UCLA. The Utes did a good job limiting Arizona's rushing attack, but failed to pressure Arizona's quarterbacks — who had plenty of time to drop back and throw on the majority of snaps. Utah needs more out of Gionni Paul this week after an abysmal two tackle performance by his standards against Arizona. The Utes will need to be near perfect this week against the run and in pressuring Rosen to have a chance in this game.
UCLA has been decimated by injuries in the front seven with losses like Myles Jack and Eddie Vanderdoes, but the Bruins have pieced together a respectable defense this year. UCLA is seventh overall in the Pac-12 in run defense with 182 yards surrendered per game and are tied for second in the conference in rushing touchdowns given up along with USC and Stanford. Kenny Clark has picked up the slack Jack and Vanderdoes left behind, racking up 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Aaron Wallace has 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks of his own. Despite a slump in production last week, the Utes still have a slight edge here.
Edge: Utah
Secondary
Reggie Porter is back as a starter in this week's depth chart and not a moment too soon for the Utes. Porter's absence coupled with Chase Hansen going down with an injury exposed the Utes on the back end as Solomon attacked Utah's corners with near impunity. Marcus Williams led the team with eight tackles and Justin Thomas grabbed another interception for Utah's 16th of the year, but the unit as a whole needs to improve drastically to defend Rosen and UCLA's stable of receivers.
UCLA's secondary is one of the team's strengths as the third best pass defending unit in the Pac-12. The Bruins give up only 5.7 yards per passing play (best in the Pac-12) and 218 yards per game on average. The team has also forced 12 interceptions, tied for third best in the conference and has talent throughout the back end of the defense in players like Ishmael Adams and Randall Goforth. UCLA has a clear edge in this category.
Edge: UCLA
Prediction: Utah needs this game to stay alive in the Pac-12 South race, but injuries are catching up to the Utes — none more crucial than Booker's. Without his presence, UCLA can key on Wilson and Utah's passing attack while attacking the Utes struggling secondary on the other side of the ball. The Bruins win this game and end Utah's Pac-12 Championship hopes, 35-20.