Barnes’ college forecast: Utah should thrive with QB change

Utah has been 1 of the astir overvalued teams truthful acold this season, but present looks similar the cleanable clip to bargain the Utes.

After a perfunctory 40-17 triumph implicit Weber State successful the opener, Utah has mislaid 2 consecutive roadworthy games arsenic a favourite of much than a touchdown. The Utes archetypal fell to Brigham Young 26-17 arsenic 7-point favorites, past mislaid to San Diego State 33-31 successful triple overtime past week arsenic 8½-point favorites.

Utah benched backmost Charlie Brewer during the San Diego State loss, and helium responded by leaving the team.

That’s astir apt for the best. Backup Cam Rising threw for 2 touchdowns successful the 4th fourth to erase a 24-10 deficit, past threw different TD successful overtime earlier San Diego State pulled retired the victory.

Change tin galvanize underperforming but talented teams specified arsenic Utah. Last week, Southern California and Texas rolled to casual covers aft making changes astatine manager and quarterback, respectively.

Utah manager Kyle Whittingham has proved reliable implicit the years, and Washington State has shown fewer signs of beingness this season. I’ll laic 14½ with Utah.

Here are 4 different plays for this week:

— Kent State +14½: The Golden Flashes struggled to people successful losses to Texas A&M and Iowa this season, but they should find overmuch easier going against Maryland. The Terrapins are 3-0, including pugnacious wins implicit West Virginia and Illinois, but they could beryllium peeking up to their ain matchup with No. 5 Iowa adjacent week.

— Western Kentucky +9½: The Hilltoppers tin people and should beryllium capable to instrumentality with Indiana. The Hoosiers besides could beryllium discouraged aft being blown retired by Iowa successful their opener and past blowing aggregate leads to Cincinnati past week. Western Kentucky has had 2 weeks off, and here’s betting the Hilltoppers volition beryllium overmuch much funny successful this crippled than Indiana.

— Texas-San Antonio +3: The Roadrunners are disconnected to a 3-0 commencement and could beryllium catching Memphis astatine the close clip aft the Tigers upset Mississippi State past week. UTSA already showed it could spell connected the roadworthy and triumph successful its opener against Illinois, and the Roadrunners are intelligibly headed successful the close absorption nether manager Jeff Traylor successful his 2nd season.

— Texas A&M -4½: The Aggies haven’t played their A-plus crippled yet aft coming into the play arsenic a acheronian equine nationalist rubric contender. Arkansas has done thing but play its A-plus crippled since trailing Rice astatine halftime of its opener. The Razorbacks charged backmost to bushed the Owls 38-17, past tore done Texas (40-21) and Georgia Southern (45-10). That can’t spell connected forever. Bet connected Texas A&M to yet amusement its spot successful the neutral-site crippled successful Arlington, Texas.

— Last week: 3-2

— Season: 8-7

Contact Jim Barnes astatine jbarnes@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV connected Twitter.