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A convincing win against Northern Illinois, and a few losses from higher ranking teams helped push the Utes into the 11th spot in the latest AP rankings, but moving up at the end of week three may prove to be a little more difficult for the Utes with FCS foe, Idaho State hardly garnering much if any national attention, and few ranked teams facing tough competition. Regardless, there are a few intriguing matchups for Ute fans to keep an eye on this weekend.
#6 Ohio State vs Indiana Saturday 10:00 AM MT - FOX
Conference rivals face off in Indiana Saturday morning as Ryan Day’s Buckeyes look to continue their winning ways on the road as they take on the undefeated Hoosiers. Facing inferior competition up to this point, Indiana’s wins against Ball State (a 34-24 victory in week one) and a 52-0 shutout against Eastern Illinois are far from inspiring, however an upset against the highest ranked team in the Big 10 would certainly go a long way in legitimizing the Hoosiers as a threat as conference play begins, but would also likely make room for Utah to crack the top 10.
#9 Florida vs Kentucky Saturday 5:00 PM MT - ESPN
With a two-game winning streak on the line, the Wildcats will look to upset the ninth ranked Gators Saturday night. With matching 2-0 records, Florida’s offense looked sloppy at best in their week zero win over in-state rival, Miami, while Kentucky’s early wins over Toledo (38-24) and Eastern Michigan (38-17) have left a little more to be desired defensively. As an -8.5 point favorite and with a 66.4% chance to win according to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the Gators are a slight favorite, but the upset minded Wildcats give Utah their best chance of breaking into the top 10 after week three.
#1 Clemson vs Syracuse Saturday 5:30 PM MT - ABC
Trevor Lawrence and his Clemson Tigers easily handled Texas A&M last week, while Syracuse was stunned by Maryland, losing 63-20 on the road, however this road trip may be the most difficult matchup the Tigers will face for the remainder of the season. As a -27.5 point favorite, it’s unlikely Clemson falls to Syracuse, however if the Orange can’t get the job done, another undefeated regular season is all but guaranteed for the Tigers.