Podcast: Utah Football Win/Loss Predictions for 2015

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Here's a quick synopsis of the episode:

We are almost a week away from the kick off of the 2015 Utah football season! The Michigan Wolverines and the fighting Harbaugh's are coming to Rice-Eccles on a Thursday night showdown, and SLC is abuzz! Before we get to that game, however, we wanted to do game-by-game predictions of Utah's 2015 win/loss record. That was the focus of this week's episode of the podcast. Andrew, Alex and I pick every single game for the season, and have a discussion on how we think the games are going to go for the guys up on The Hill. It's interesting to see how much of the same page we are all on, and how we are all thinking this could be a successful campaign for the Utes. Some of us were very, very close to picking the Utes in some big upsets too.

To go along with the podcast, which is a GREAT listen, below we have the predictions by the entire Block U staff, with final win/loss totals, and much more! For full in depth breakdowns of the predictions by Alex, Shane and Andrew, you'll want to listen to the podcast.

For all the reasons why we don't miss the game, more fall camp conversation, and much, much more listen to this week's episode!

Daniel's Predictions:

Michigan- Win
USU- Win
Fresno St.- Win
Oregon- Win
Cal-Win
ASU- Win
USC- Loss
Oregon- St.- Win
Washington- Win
Arizona- Loss
UCLA- Win
Col- Win

Points of Interest

1. I do not think Michigan can score enough points to beat Utah in RES this year. Utah's offense will be much improved and I think that the constant pounding of Booker is going to wear down the Wolverine D. Utah Pulls away late. 31-14

2. I think this is the best chance for Utah to get a win in Autzen. I believe that by game 3 Utah will have found an offensive identity and will have started to settle in. Utah wins a close one. 35-31

3. This is also the year Utah gets over the ASU hump. Bercovicci will not have success against this Utah D on his own. He is not mobile as Kelly was and the loss of Strong is going to be a tough hurdle for them to overcome. Utah wins impressively at home 31-24

4. USC is bringing back too much for me to pick Utah on the road. Kesler and co. are definatley the favorite in the south for me. I feel like they will be a little too talented for Utah to overtake them in the coliseum. Utah loses a good one 35-28.

5. I don't feel that Oregon St is talented enough to put up a fight this year, even with the Anderson/Sitake drama. Utah is more talented across the board and the players want to prove a point. It's a massacre in RES on Halloween! 42-17

6. If this AZ game was at home this year, I would have picked Utah in a close one. Unfortunately, it's not. Hard for me to pick the Utes in Arizona. Anu Solomon and Rich Rod have found a winning formula on offense and even though they have lost Scooby wright, there is enough to win a close one at home. 35-28 Zona.

Utah finishes 10-2 with a run at the Pac-12 south....lofty? Maybe, but last year's 9-4 could have very easily been 11-2.

Adam's Predictions:

Michigan
This game should be a much better game than the one a year ago in Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh has a proven track record of turning teams around quickly and he will have the Wolverines ready to play when they come into Rice-Eccles. That being said I see this game as coming down to who can make more stops in the 4th quarter and it's hard to bet against the Utah defense at home. I think it will be a hard fought game with the Utes pulling it out near the end. Utah 24-21

Utah State
I think Utah wins this one pretty comfortably. It's at home and even with the return of Chuckie Keeton, Utah State will be missing a lot of talent from recent years. The Aggies keep it interesting for a half before Utah pulls away. Utah 31-14

at Fresno State
This looks to be Utah's easiest game on schedule at first glance. Fresno State by all indications is not much improved from last season and we all know how that game ended up. Still, Fresno St. has a history of pulling upsets and this will be played in Fresno. The Utes need to make sure they aren't looking ahead to Oregon. Still, I think Utah should roll in this game and I wouldn't be surprised to see the starters only play 3 quarters. Utah 48-21

at Oregon

Utah will be looking for some redemption after "dropping" a golden opportunity last season. Oregon loses Mariota, though returns the majority of their skill players and still boasts more talent than the Utes. I think Oregon will remember last year's game and come out focused, taking over the game early on. I don't think it will be a blowout, but I don't think Utah will ever be that close either. Oregon 41-21

Cal
It seems many are looking at the Cal game as this year's "terrible loss" for the Utes. Cal does have a great quarterback and explosive offense, but their defense is suspect and they will be playing in Salt Lake. I think it will be a close game, but I don't see an upset here. I think the Utes come out in their snazzy throwback uniforms ready to play, and take care of business at home. Utah 28-24

Arizona State
The Sun Devils always seem to have the Utes number and this year I think will be no different. The Sun Devils have to travel to Salt Lake City, but I think their defense will fluster Travis Wilson enough that the offense will have a hard time being effective. The Utah defense will keep the Utes in the game, but Arizona State pulls away in the 4th quarter. Arizona State 24-14

at USC
Looking at USC's roster, it's hard to find a team with more talent. Combine with the fact this game will be in the Colosseum and the manner in which Utah pulled out a victory last season, and I think USC is going to come out gunning for the Utes. Sark is always a wild card and doesn't have a great track record for getting the most out of his players, but I think USC is ready for this one. USC 31-17

Oregon State
It's going to be a rough year for Gary Anderson in Corvallis. The Beavers have lost a lot of talent, and with the coaching change its total rebuild mode up there. I think eventually Anderson finds success, but it won't be this year and not in Rice-Eccles. Utah 38-10

at Washington
Chris Peterson is in year two at Washington and looks to have some issues ironed out going into his second season. The Huskies lost Shaq Thompson, Danny Shelton, Hau'oli Kikaha among others however and there in still no quarterback in Montlake. Utah gets its first win against the Huskies since joining the Pac-12. Utah 28-14

at Arizona
Arizona always runs on Utah, and with Anu Soloman and Nick Wilson back, the Wildcats have all the tools to do it again. Rich Rod has this team on an upward trend and I think the Utes fall in Tucson. Arizona 31-14

UCLA
Jim Mora has recruited well since arriving in Westwood and has players like Myles Jack and Paul Perkins returning. However, the Bruins will be breaking in a freshman quarterback and their defense lost Eric Kendricks. Utah should have the upper hand with Devontae Booker and playing in Rice-Eccles. Utah 21-17

Colorado
There is no doubt the Buffs are improving under Mike Macintyre. Colorado was in several games last year and even had UCLA on the ropes before letting it slip away. I think Colorado will win some games and surprise some people this year and wouldn't be surprised if they pulled an upset against the Utes. However, my gut tells me Utah gets it done at home. Utah 24-21

Final record 8-4

Joseph's Predictions:

UTAH over Michigan
UTAH over USU
UTAH over Fresno State
OREGON over Utah
CAL over Utah
UTAH over ASU
USC over Utah
UTAH over Oregon State
UTAH over Washington
UTAH over Arizona
UTAH over UCLA
UTAH over Colorado

FULL STAFF PREDICTIONS:

Mich

USU

@Fresno

@Oregon

Cal

ASU

@USC

OSU

@Wash

@Ariz

UCLA

CU

Total W/L

Shane

W

W

W

L

W

W

L

W

W

L

W

W

9-3

Alex

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

W

W

L

W

W

7-5

Joseph

W

W

W

L

L

W

L

W

W

W

W

W

9-3

Adam

W

W

W

L

W

L

L

W

W

L

W

W

8-4

Daniel

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

W

W

L

W

W

10-2

Andrew

W

W

W

L

W

W

L

W

W

L

W

W

9-3