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Everybody take a quarterback. Don't let anybody else see your quarterback.
Now, place your bets.
The gamesmanship between No. 18 Utah and its opponents continues, with neither side naming its starter even if nearly everybody expects Travis Wilson and Vernon Adams Jr. to take the first snaps in Eugene this Saturday.
In Week One, it was Michigan playing coy about Jake Rudock and Shane Morris, prompting fans to stake out the Wolverines' practice at Highland High. Utah guessed Rudock, and it guessed right.
In Week Three, after Wilson sprained his left shoulder on a 38-yard scramble against Utah State, Utah separated Wilson and backup Kendal Thompson with the "OR" that has been a staple of its depth chart during the Thompson era.
Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter, in response, said he was going to keep his cards face-down, too.
Vegas was again slow to set an opening line this week — eventually favoring the No. 13 Ducks by two touchdowns — as it read both coaches' poker faces.
Utah believes it will see Adams, who won the job two weeks after his arrival from FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington and started Oregon's first two games while playing through a broken right index finger.
"He fits very well into what they do," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday. "There's only one Marcus Mariota, so those are big shoes to fill, but he's done a nice job."
Adams has thrown for 555 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing 28 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. Against Georgia State, Lockie was 23 for 31 for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
But as the Duck offense continues to churn out 50 points per game — ranking ninth in the nation in total offense and third in first downs — Whittingham's highest praise Monday was reserved for sophomore running back Royce Freeman.
He was impressed by Freeman's 230-pound physique during Pac-12 Media Days in Burbank, Calif., he said, and he's impressed by the tape, too.
Whittingham seemed intrigued to hear that Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said Utah's defense has been "a little bit different" through its first three games.
"What did he say was our difference?"
Told Helfrich didn't elaborate, he made his best guess.
"We haven't dialed up as much pressure this year as in years past, percentage-wise," he said. "I think we've been maybe a little more conservative, leaning on the four-man rush a little bit more."
Defensive coordinator John Pease is now calling the plays, and Whittingham has been pleased with the run defense and the number of turnovers generated.
But he'd like to see more sacks from the front seven that led the nation last year, with 55.
Only 13 teams have fewer, one-fourth of the way through the season, than Utah's three, and Adams was brought down five times in two games this season. On the frequency of Utah's blitzes, Whittingham said: "We need to take a look at that and see what direction we want to go."
As for Utah's starter at quarterback, Whittingham said the Utes themselves may not know until Wednesday or Thursday.
Wilson is believed to be at a low risk for further injury, sources have told The Tribune previously, and he dressed and warmed up for Saturday's game.
Given that Wilson is also considered the better downfield passer, and that Utah will face the nation's 118th-ranked defense in passing yards allowed (316 yards per game), it will be a big bluff if the Utes trot out Thompson.
But, then, that's exactly what Utah did against Oregon last year.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon
O Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
TV • FOX