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Front Seven: Previewing Saturday's top college football games

1. Sorting: With two weeks left in the regular season, about all we know about the Pac-12 South is that Colorado won't win it. Saturday's games will go a long way toward sorting things out, headlined by the L.A. rivalry of No. 24 Southern California at No. 12 UCLA. For the Trojans, who finish against their traditional non-conference rival Notre Dame, this is the Pac-12 finale.
A win would put USC in the clubhouse at 6-2, but even that wouldn't guarantee the division crown by itself. It would, however, eliminate Utah as well as the Bruins, each of whom would then have three losses. It is UCLA, which owns a head-to-head tiebreaker vs. both Arizona schools, that controls its destiny. The Bruins will earn the shot at Oregon in the conference title game if they can get past the Trojans and Stanford next week. UCLA QB Brett Hundley has been as good as advertised as a dual threat despite some early protection issues. He has accounted for 24 TDs, including seven by land. TB Paul Perkins has been a big help in the running game, and he'll be needed again as Hundley tries to steer clear of USC DE Leonard Williams. Trojans' QB Cody Kessler does not like to take off as much, but he has 29 TD tosses and gets plenty of ground support from TBs Javorius Allen and Justin Davis. LBs Eric Kendricks and Myles Jack will try to keep them bottled up.
2. Shuffling: Elsewhere in the crazy Pac-12 South, No. 13 Arizona heads to No. 21 Utah in what is in effect an elimination game for the Utes. The Wildcats wouldn't be completely out of hope with a loss, as there would exist a scenario in which all five contenders could finish tied. Utah fans must get a win from their Utes, then root hard for UCLA later in the day. The stars of this game might be on the defensive side. Arizona LB Scooby Wright does a little of everything, leading the squad in total tackles and sacks. His primary focus this time will be Utah TB Devontae Booker, who has been a steady producer all season but will need some aerial cover from QB Travis Wilson. The Utes' mainstay is DE Nate Orchard, who has the strength to shift inside to cause even more problems for opposing blockers. His target who wants to avoid him is Wildcats' QB Anu Solomon, who has excellent deep weapons in WRs Cayleb Jones and Austin Hill if they have time to get downfield.

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