Points could be at a premium when Utah and Houston meet

Utah Utes quarterback Isaac Wilson (11) throws a pass while bring blocked by TCU Horned Frogs safety Abe Camara (1) during a game between the University of Utah and the TCU Horned Frogs at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the Utah Utes 13-7. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

If you’re a fan of watching high-powered offensive football, Saturday’s Utah at Houston game may not be for you.

As bad as Utah’s offense has been this season — and it’s been bad, especially over the past three games — Houston’s offensive output has been even worse.

Averaging only 303 yards per game (No. 121 in the nation), the Cougars (2-5, 1-3 Big 12) have been downright dreadful on the offensive side of the ball and have been outscored 115-33 over their four Big 12 Conference games.

Houston quarterback Donovan Smith has a negative touchdown to interception ratio (4:8), has thrown for just 867 yards on a 65.4% completion rate, and has been sacked 17 times this season (in total, Houston has allowed 24 sacks, No. 125 in FBS).

Trying to find a spark on offense following two shutout losses, Houston replaced Smith with quarterback Zeon Chriss for the Cougars’ 30-19 win over TCU two weeks ago — their first Big 12 win this season — but he left in the first quarter of the 42-14 loss against Kansas last week with an injury.

Chriss is expected to be available against Utah, Houston coach Willie Fritz said, but as two players are set to return from injury for Houston — Chriss and starting receiver Stephon Johnson — another Cougar exits for the season.

Starting left tackle Dakota White suffered a season-ending injury last week against Kansas, making matters even worse for Houston this week in the trenches.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Fritz said of Chriss. “Obviously…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/points-could-premium-utah-houston-210000196.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-10-25 21:00:00

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