Arizona Football still has a lot to play for this season. After dropping their first two conference games, the Cats have won two in a row and are looking to pull above .500 in the conference when they host Washington State on Saturday.
Here are four questions Arizona fans will be asking this weekend.
Who will start at quarterback?
When Anu Solomon and Jerrard Randall are both healthy, they can be a lethal combination.
With Randall’s impressive performance off the bench, last weekend at Colorado, Arizona fans are wondering if Rich Rodriguez may reward him with a start against the Cougars.
I don’t think it matters who starts, but both quarterbacks may get a lot of playing time in the coming weeks in order to keep teams guessing.
Although he has his critics, Solomon is still a viable threat.
Against Colorado, he became the fastest Arizona quarterback to get 5,000 passing yards. He did it in his 20th career start.
The skinny on Solomon this season is he has been a little too careful throwing the ball, but his conservative approach to passing has caused him to have 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Combine that with an explosive Randall, and the Cats could do some damage in the next month.
Is Rich Rod getting testy?
Arizona Wildcats
After the Colorado game, Rich Rod mentioned to reporters that he looked up from the sidelines and only saw two Arizona defensive players that had started in the first game.
Coach Rod has been preaching ‘next man up’ since he came to Tucson. Could the injuries finally be getting into Rodriguez’s outward psyche?
At Tuesday’s press conference coach Rod took aim at the Pac-12.
“I just don’t understand how this happens when you play 12 straight games, and then you play night road games and then we are going to play an 8 p.m. road game at Washington, get back at five in the morning and then have to go back on the road again,”.
Arizona fans have talked ad nauseum about the Cats not having a bye week this year, but it comes off a little different when the head coach protests about it.
Can Arizona Put Pressure on Luke Falk?
After two dreadful games to start conference play, Arizona fans covered their eyes in preparation for Oregon State.
But the Cats proved the last two weeks with a beat up defense, they do have the ability to make stops on the defensive end.
If Arizona wants a chance to beat the Cougars today and stay in the Pac-12 South race, they need to put pressure on Washington State quarterback Luke Falk.
That seems possible since Washington State is dead last in the Pac-12 in sacks allowed with 21.
Can Utah lose at USC?
Sep 3, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Call me crazy, but I still think the Cats have a shot at the Pac-12 South. It may be a small shot, but I’m a dreamer when it comes to the Cats.
Utah is now the favorite in the South, but with six conference games left I’m not convinced they can run the table.
USC is actually favored in this matchup by 3½ points. You read that correctly. LA Times reporter Lance Pugmire quotes Jay Rood, sports director of MGM Resorts’ multi-book operation, to explain why, “People think this is a tailspin for USC, but I don’t see it as a tailspin. They just need to stabilize a bit. They have the No. 1 recruiting class, NFL talent all over the roster. All it takes is the coaches to say the right things and to put the guys in the right spots, and that team can play with anyone in the country.”
If USC beats Utah this weekend, and the Cats continue to take care of business, the showdown between these two at Arizona Stadium on Nov 14 becomes monumental.
Fight On Trojans and Bear Down Arizona!