10 things to know about Utah at Arizona


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TUCSON, AZ. — Coming off its biggest win since joining the Pac-12, Utah will head outside the state for the first time in 2013, travelling south to take on the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson.

The Utes will look to build off their upset win over the then No. 5 Stanford Cardinal, while the Wildcats try to get back on track after losing two straight.

Here are ten things you need to know to impress your friends as we count you down to kickoff:

  • Utah (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) at Arizona (3- 2, 0-2 Pac-12)
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 19
  • Time: 7 p.m. MST (8 p.m. MDT)
  • Site: Arizona Stadium (56,037/FieldTurf Cool Play)
  • TV: Pac-12 Networks
  • Radio: ESPN700 AM, Sirius 139/XM 197
  • Series Record: Utah leads 20-16-2
  • Last Meeting: 2012 (Arizona 34-24)
Series Snapshot
In its 39th game, this is Utah's second-longest series against a Pac-12 school—a rivalry the Utes lead 20-16-2. Kyle Whittingham's first victory as Utah's head coach was against the Wildcats in the 2005 season opener. That game was also the starting debut for Brian Johnson, now Utah's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Utah leads 9-8-2 in Tucson.

  • Utah (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) plays Arizona (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12) in Tucson on Saturday. Kick time is 8:00 p.m. MDT (7:00 p.m. MST) in Arizona Stadium. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Radio is ESPN700 AM. Satellite radio is Sirius 139/XM 197.
  • Perhaps no statistic is more indicative of Arizona's success in recent seasons than the turnover battle. The Wildcats have won 16-consecutive games, including all seven under Rich Rodriguez, when they win the turnover battle (last loss was vs. USC on Oct. 25, 2008). Considering all games since the start of 2008 (last 69 games), Arizona is 19-2 when it wins the turnover battle, 12-10 when it ties and 7-19 when it loses the turnover battle. That adds up to a 31-12 mark when Arizona wins or ties the turnover battle. Under Rodriguez, the Wildcats are 9-2 when winning or tying the turnover battle.
  • No. 5 Stanford is the highest ranked opponent Utah has ever beaten at home. The win was Utah's second all-time victory against a top-five team team (Utah beat No. 4 Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl). Stanford came into the game with the nation's second-longest winning streak at 13 games. Utah's win over the Cardinal improved its three-year record against the Pac-12 North to 5-5. Utah also won its 49 consecutive game when leading at halftime, which is the second-longest streak in the country behind Oregon
  • Utah received 47 votes in this week's Associated Press poll, marking its first mention in the poll since 2010. Utah received 18 votes in the USA Today Coaches' poll.
  • With four games under his belt in 2013, Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey has begun backing up his All-American sophomore campaign. Carey took his first handoff of the season 58 yards for a touchdown against UNLV on Sept. 7. He went on to finish with a game-high 171 rushing yards on 16 carries and has added 100-yard games in each of his last three outings.
  • In three wins to open the season, Arizona won or tied the field position in each game. Then on a trip to Washington on Sept. 28, the Wildcats faced a 12-yard deficit in the battle for field position. The Huskies averaged their own 35 for starting field position, while Arizona was stuck at its own 23 on average. Last Thursday at USC it was not any better. The Wildcats average start was their own 20, while the Trojans started at their own 28.
  • Arizona ranks as the second-least penalized team in the Pac-12 having been flagged for only 37.6 yards per game. That figure also ranks No. 20 nationally and is a healthy improvement from a season ago when the Wildcats finished No. 77 (55.1 per game). Interestingly, Arizona's opponents have been penalized for 63.6 yards per game - which is the 16th-most nationally for opponent penalty yards.
  • Junior wide receiver Garic Wharton is arguably Arizona's fastest wide receiver and he used that speed to score a pair of touchdowns at USC last Thursday. Wharton hauled in a 45-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and later caught a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter that brought the Wildcats to within a touchdown of the Trojans. The 45-yard play ranks as Arizona's second-longest scoring pass play this season. In five games, Wharton has five receptions of 20 or more yards and is the only Wildcat with multiple 20-plus yard receptions. On the season, Wharton has 10 receptions for a team-high 190 yards - a swift 19 yards per catch.
  • The Utes have two players on their roster from Arizona: redshirt freshman offensive lineman J.J. Dielman (Ahwatukee/Desert Vista HS) and true freshman defensive back Clarence Smith (Buckeye/Youngker HS). Arizona has no player from Utah on its roster.
  • Utah ranks third nationally in plays of 50 yards or more with nine. Dres Anderson is tied for the national lead in receptions of 50 yards or longer with five and Wilson's seven pass plays of 50 yards or longer ranks third in the country.

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