OK, FOOTBALL!!!!

Football is back and I'll be on a lot more often because that's where my passion really lies. Some things have taken place that I love. Utah has cut their three QB's down to 2. Corbin Louks is the odd man out, so... he's out. He's transfered to Neveda (Reno). So that leaves the JC transfer, Terrence Cain, and the true freshman, Jordan Wynn. It seems as though Wynn is the favorite, but how do you start an 18 year old kid who looks like he hasn't ever shaved and that he is wearing his older brother's pads and jersey (check it out, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2rUgmP2PfA ). It's a scary thought, but what if he's the best? All the local media says that he is the only true "thrower" of the two.

I say start the kid. Hell, his first game is only Utah State (but Gary Anderson's USU). He'll get thrown to the wolves, but more so to the cubs really. If he plays well, keep him in. If not, well, keep him in. I believe TCU will win the conference this year and I want Utah to do really well to show that last year was no fluke, however, if we could have a four year starter (3 if he goes pro early) and dominate for 3 more years, the MWC could become a BCS conference!!!!

I'm just ranting right now, but I love football!!!

What to do?

To Booze, or not to Booze, that is the question.  Although I think that Boozer doesn't show the toughness that a starting 4 needs to, and I mean on both ends of the court, I believe they should resign him.  I heard a proposal that sounded good to me.  AK starting 3 and back up 4 getting 30-36 minutes a night, Boozer starting 4 and Memo at the 5.  My only hesitation is Memo.  I just think the Jazz need some interior size.  The problem with getting rid of Memo is spacing.  With Boozer down low on the block, where would the big defensive center be?  Who would the other team have to guard?  The Lakers proved to me and most observant Jazz fans that Ronnie Brewer, though athletic and talented, can not be a proven shooting guard in the league.  With him on the court, who would create the space necessary for Boozer to work in the middle?  So, if Memo leaves the Jazz MUST get a shooting guard who can shoot.  Stretch the defense.  Who do the Jazz need?  I can't answer that question but if they do trade Memo for a defensive center, they have to trade Miles/Corver/Brewer for a slashing and shooting veteran who can tell the Jazz players to shut up and play when they start boobing about whatever they boob about.  I would like Rip Hamilton or Josh Smith from Atlanta, just, I'm not sure how to work that deal out.  But I do know the defensive center I would want.  Chris Kaman from the Clippers.  He is a 7 footer who actually LIKES to be under the basket, but he is not a skilled offensive player so it would leave room for Boozer underneath.  But would require a good shooter/slasher outside to not create a cluster #^$% in the paint.  Kevin O'Conner has done a great job to create a good team and I think that after he reads this, he'll take my advice and pull the trigger on a Kaman deal.

on a better note.

The NFL draft was today!!!  The Seattle Seahawks now have the best Linebacker core in the NFL.  Lofa Tatupu is a great middle LB, Leroy Hill was great last year and Aaron Curry from Wake Forest was picked fourth by them today.  The best LB core in the game!!!  Also, I will be watching the Ravens and the Dolphins this year, Paul Kruger will most likely play outside LB with the ravens in the 3-4.  Shaun Smith was picked by the Dolphins.  But where are the Cougars?  Um...GO UTES

How the...

Ok, I'll be the first to tell you that Kobe Bryant is over-rated.  I do not think he is, or has ever been, the best player in the NBA.  When he won his 3 NBA championships, Shaq was the better player on his own team.  Before Shaq, even with Kobe, the Lakers were a mediocre team.  After Shaq, they were just as bad if not worse.  He is a selfish head case.  I can go on and on about how much MJ and Labron was and is better all-around players.  With that said, I have NEVER, I do mean never, seen such a display of cold blooded disassembling of the Utah Jazz as I witnessed tonight.  Michael Jordan had his share of his great moments and games against the Jazz (fouling of Malone on one end, pushing off of Russell on the other, did I mention I was a little bias).  But I mean c'mon.  Tonight was stupid ridiculous.  Kobe Bryant was absurd tonight.  Every shot was contested.  Kudos to Ronnie Brewer, AK47, and even Darron Williams, but mostly Brewer for the great defense on him.  What can you do?  The man was on a mission tonight.  His numbers do not matter, his defense (which was great) doesn't matter.  He destroyed the Jazz emotionally tonight.  Again, what more can you do than perfect defense?  Sloan says he hates to double team players like Kobe because it leaves so much open for a team like the Lakers because they are so talented everywhere else.  Kobe made shots he was doubled on.  And they were good doubles, not the crappy little thing that Boozer usually does, but actual great double teams.  The Jazz did not play like they did on Thursday, they didnt help out on other players like they did than.  Also, I think Memo hurt the team by coming back, yah he spread the floor, but to what end?  He took three shots and missed them all.  Also, I only saw heart and determination from four players in the second half, DWill, Brewer, Corver and even Boozer.  Yet, you will rarely here me say anything positive about Kobe Bryant and it pains me to do so now.  I'll tell you what, the announcer on for ESPN said it best, "Ronnie Brewer deserved better tonight."  The man was on a mission and he completed that mission.  I am pissed about the outcome because I HATE Kobe and the Lakers.  However, I feel blessed I was able to watch this game by a true master.  Even more than the games I watched with MJ vs. the Jazz, which I mostly hate.  This game was awe inspiring and unbelievable.  Wow.

I think they found the answer.

Just one thing, do you think this will fix everything?

NBA All Time Team

After a great conversation with my dad about the nastiness of the Jazz, or lack of, we started talking all time players.  My all time team would start with four players in three positions.  John Stockton would start at the point (1), Michael Jordan would start at shooting guard (2), and Larry Bird would start at small forward.  The back up at all three positions would be Magic Johnson.  Maybe I'd even go Stockton at the 1, Magic at the 2 and Jordan at the 3.  Thats the beauty there, you have three guys that could play in 2 or three spots.  My power forward would have to be Karl Malone, I don't know anyone you could even argue.  My center is up for debate, I would probably go with Hakeem Olajuwon.  My dad said Wilt Chamberlain or Lew Alcindor.  Yah, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was great as well.  You also have to mention Shaq here, but I don't know where he would fit.  Honestly, Kareem would be my choice, but any of the five would fit.  There is one player currently playing in the NBA that I might put on the list, Labron James.  He is an animal.  So here we go.

1-John Stockton-FG% 52, 3p% 38, FT% 83, AST 15,806, STL 3265, PTS 19,711

6-1, 170 lbs.  APG 10.5, SPG 2.2, PPG 13.1

2-Magic Johnson-FG% 52, 3P% 30, FT% 85, AST 10,141, STL 1724, PTS 17,707

6-8, 215 lbs APG 11.2, SPG 1.9, PPG 19.5

3-Michael Jordan-FG% 50, 3P% 33, FT% 84, STL 2514, REB 6672 PTS 32,292

6-6, 195 lbs SPG 2.3, RPG 6.2, PPG 30.1

4-Karl Malone-FG% 51, FT% 74,  ORB 3562, TRB 14968, BLK 1145, PTS 36,928

6-9, 250 lbs ORPG 2.4, TRBPG 10.1, BPG .8, PPG 25

5-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-FG% 56, FT% 72, ORB 2975*, TRB 17440, BLK 3189, PTS 38,387

7-2, 225 lbs ORPG 2.4, TRPG 11.2, BPG 2.6, PPG 24.6

*the NBA didn't separate rebounds until 1973-74 season

My Bench would be-

Larry Bird-FG% 50, 3P% 38, FT% 89, PTS 21,791

6-9, 220 lbs PPG 24.3

Shaquille O'Neal-FG% 58, FT% 53, ORB 4068, TRB 12,566, BLK 2628, PTS 27,619

7-1, 300 lbs ORPG 3.6, TRPB 11.2, BPG 2.4, PPG 24.7

LaBron James-FG% 47, FT% 74, AST 3159, STL 830, BLK 405, PTS 12,993

6-8, 240 lbs                             APG 6.7, SPG 1.8, BPG .9, PPG 27.5

OK, so admittedly, it's a big team.  Isn't basketball about size though?  I just can't think of any other guards that I would put out there.  There is always Gary Payton, who is a personal favorite, but all time best?  I was to young to remember Pistol Pete or Jerry "the Logo" West, so maybe one of those guys, but who knows.  Anyway here it is.  Let me know what you think.

Return of the bias

I am sorry I haven't updated in so long.  I didn't think it was being read and did not really want to spend time doing it.  But it is being read and it's a great release when I just want to yell at the T.V. and say "DUNK THE DAMN BALL!! Don't go all weak to the whole and think that the ref is going to call Kobe with a phantom call!!!"  So I am going to try to write more often and I will go into past things that I have been asked about when I have nothing to write about.  However, for this post, the NFL draft is less than a week away and the Jazz showed more fight than I expected in the second half.  It is late though, I will update more fully another time.  But to you fans, I am back!!  GO UTES.

BYU Vs.Utah

First off, let me apologize for my lack of writing.  I have been working like crazy, which for me, means that I've been playing games and watching sports during my off time.  Secondly, I apologize to my fellow Ute fans for not helping rub it in to the fans of the team down south.

So, for the first time in my memory, Utah has dominated BYU in both football and basketball.  Utah went undefeated and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl when BYU ended their "Quest for perfection" with a losses at TCU, Utah, and an embarrassing loss to Arizona in the Vegas Bowl.  That was the wonderful season that is football.  Next came basketball, which most Ute fans were thinking "When does football season start?"  With early losses to Southwest Baptist (who?) and Idaho State, we were all saying "At least we have still have football bragging rights" (for now).  Yet, Utah pulled it together with a steady stream of wins starting with the mighty Bulldogs from Spokane, Gonzaga.  Their RPI is 9th in the nation right now.  Which, to those of you who don't know, is a mathematic equation that results in strength of schedule.  Not an opinion of one guy who thinks that Alabama beating Ole Miss is better than Utah beating TCU. It takes into account all of your opponents and their opponents and figures out who has had the toughest schedule.

Also, Utah is in the drivers seat in the MWC.  They are two games ahead of everyone else, most notably, BYU.  Now, BYU made up a game with incredible defense down the stretch and beat Utah tonight.  Utah has to go into the dreaded Pit and play New Mexico, who is also playing well.  If Utah can pull that one off, they will win the MWC regular season title and be in the first spot in the tourney.  

However, Utah still has a chance to go one up on them on a neutral court and this time won't be caught off guard by the zone.  Here's hoping that they meat again in the MWC tournament finals!!  GO UTES.

What a Game!

Gone are the days that you can say "the AFC or NFC championship is really the game."  Over the past few years, the fore thought blow-outs have had very different results.  The Giants beating New England is probably the pinnacle of them all, yet this years game offered a similar feeling.  However, I was watching in a room with my In-Laws, mostly Steeler fans.  That added a lot to the intensity of the game.  It was amazing to watch an elated crowd get deflated with one pass.  One of the younger ones even threw a yellow flag (bought with a matching challenge flag) in hopes the refs might see holding or such.  Another Terrible Towel was thrown at the TV, either in frustration or hoping to trip the wide open Larry Fitzgerald.  It was amazing to see and made me glad that I had made other plans for Superbowl XL.  I get the same way.  The touchdown pass to Holmes in the back of the endzone (he did catch it!) was another amazing thing.  The room was a stunned silence of un-acceptance even after the line judge signaled TD.  It was only after several replays of the catch that the room erupted in elation.  Even the Cowboys fans in the room were jumping up and down.  It was amazing, even better than last years upset that everyone was routing for.  It was, for me, the exact opposite feeling than Superbowl XL, although a similar result.  The Steelers are an iconic organization.  They are what all other sports franchises should want to be.  Not because they have an NFL record 6 Superbowl Championships, but because they win with consistency. 

 They hired Chuck Knoll in 1969 and turned their ugly history around.  Under Knoll, they won 9 Division Championships, 4 Conference Championships, and went 4-0 in SuperBowls.  They had a rough patch in the 80's, but the Rooney family was loyal to Knoll and he didn't leave until he retired in 1992.  They turned their attention to Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Bill Cower.  He led the team to 8 Division Championships, 2 Conference Championships, and went 1-1 in the Superbowl.  Losing to the Cowboys in 1995 and beating the Seahawks in 2005.  Now, under Mike Tomlin, another young Defensive Coordinator, they have continued there success winning yet another Superbowl.  Congratulations to one of the most successful and classy organizations in all of sports.  My hat is of to you...it's still a Seahawks hat, but it is still off in salute to you.  Now only if Paul Allen can follow the Rooney family...

It's Basketball Season?

In a way, this may just be one of the most boring sports weekends of the year.  I know, some of you are saying, "but Mr. Sith, what about the great sport of basketball?!"  And I'll agree, basketball is a great sport that I love to watch and get passionate about.  In fact, it's getting into the meat of the season, but we're not there yet.  College basketball is in the part of the season where you might start paying attention, maybe.  

Here's the deal, nobody can argue that football is king.  College football is over with some great bowl games this year (GO UTES!).  The major problem with this time of year, every year, is that the three major sports that are still playing right now (NFL, NBA and NCAA Basketball) are in a down time for their season.  This is the only weekend in the NFL season that there is no football.  In the NBA, everyone is waiting for the All-Star Game.  In fact, all the sports radio, podcast's, blog's and print media can talk about right now is the All-Star Game.  Here locally, it's all about why Deron Williams is not an All-Star yet, and will he be by the time the game comes around.  In NCAA Basketball, you are starting to here the "bubble" (shiver) word.

In this world where football rules all sports, nothing gets any acknowledgement from the majority of fans until the King lays down his scepter for the year.  After the Superbowl, most fans scratch their heads and say "um...now what do I watch?  Who to route for?"  

I admit that I am one of those fans who watch the NBA with an attitude that it's not yet important.  And College Basketball?  How many wins does your favorite team have?  Don't look, just say it.  That's what I thought.  Nobody knows right now, nor do they care.  Next week, you are going to start hearing things like "must win for the Cougars" and "can the Utes pull off the upset and get in the tournament".  

But right now, everyone is calling their booky and putting their hard earned cash on whatever team they think might win, or at least cover the spread in the Superbowl.  On the radio today, I hear things like "can the Arizona Cardinals offense put up enough points against that amazing Pittsburgh Steel Curtain?"  People are asking themselves and others about the 'Cards and if they even stand a chance.  There is a full week before the game.  NBA has 14 games on the schedule this weekend.  NCAA Basketball has a slew of games every weekend.  Still, people are saying "Can Pittsburgh push the 'Cards around like they have everyone else this post season?"  So, to all you basketball fans, you can't yet talk about how the Jazz might not even make the playoffs at the water cooler yet.  Because Jim, the accounts manager in the next cubical, is thinking of how he can convince his wife that the Cardinals are a sure bet and that the hundreds of dollars he bet on them will net him thousands.  Just be patient with him, it will all be over in week.  And for all you live and die with Football guys, the NFL combine is Feb. 18-24 and will be broadcast on the NFL network, so you only have to wait two weeks for a fix.  Than you have to wait until April 25th for the draft.  After that is an even longer wait until the start of the College Football season in September.

Eagles find another way to lose a big game

The Philadelphia Eagles, under Andy Ried, have been to five NFC championship games.  They are an astounding 1-4 in that time.  The one that they did win, they choke away the Superbowl to New England.  I have heard a lot of comparison's to the Buffalo Bills of the 90's, who went to 5 AFC championships in a row.  The Bills however, were 4-1 in that time, although 0-4 in the Superbowl.

If you ask me, I would rather have Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Don Beebe, Cornelius Bennett, and Bruce Smith than Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and crew.  McNabb Continues to not impress me by throwing behind wide open receivers, over throwing running back's and a hesitancy to run for yards.  Andy Ried's offense isn't much help, even Arizona runs the ball a little.  When we look back on the career of McNabb, what are we going to see?  I will see the same thing that I see now, an over-rated QB that has never lived up to his potential. 

Jazzed up?

Every once in a while, I go onto sports fan blog sites (much like this one) and read what people are saying.  It amazes me how incredibly stupid some people are.  When I read that Memot Okur is actually hurting the team by being on the floor, I pick up my jaw and chuckle at the moron.  

If you've been reading this, you know where my passion lies, football, mostly college football.  But I enjoy and follow just about all the major sports.  I can't break down film, or things of that nature with basketball, but I believe I know enough to say a few things (or b.s. my way through it).

Let's start with the basics, Point Guard (John Stockton, Magic Johnson) is position number 1, Shooting Guard (Dwane Wade, Reggie Miller) is position number 2, Small Forward (Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant) is position number 3, Power Forward (Karl Malone, is there another?) is position number 4, and Center (Shaq, Wilt Chamberlin) is position number 5.  So, everyone got it?  Good, now we can move on.

Spacing is key to basketball on every level.  It really matters where the 5 is standing when the 1 has the ball.  Let's say that you have two post players on the same team, I.E. Shaq and the Mailman in '03-'04, if Shaq is in the low post and Karl Malone goes within 4 feet of him, he brings an extra defender with him creating a jam in the middle.  That than dissolves the called play and the 1 (Derek Fisher) has to "improvise" and usually passed it to Kobe who shot it no matter who was covering him or who was open.  That is why the Piston's won that series so easily, they disrupted the Lakers spacing.  It's really hard to describe what it should look like with a diagram, but you might get my point.

With the Jazz, I have always screamed for a defensive center.  I have always been a fan of Alonzo Mourning, I used to think he would have been a great fit with the Jazz.  He didn't care about offensive stats, although he was great, he wanted to shut down the other team.  I thought that if you put him next to Malone, it would be a great team.  The problem is spacing.  If Zo was on the '97 or '98 team, the Jazz may have taken the Bulls to seven games, but I doubt it.  I think they would have lost to houston the first year.  Because of spacing.  The great thing with Memo, he has to be defended.  You have to respect his shot, you don't get that with some center's.  Think back when the Jazz had Ostertag, or even Mark Eaton.  There were many plays that started with them standing above the three point line.  Why?  The couldn't hit those shots, in fact, you almost didn't have to defend them.  But it created spacing for the other guys to work.  But now, the Jazz have a "softer" forward in Boozer, so more spacing is needed.  What I mean by softer is he is either unable or unwilling to push another player around.  He chooses to use his skill, which is great, to get around the other big men.  That only works because Memo and Korver are keeping their guys out on the perimeter.  Without Memo, the other team can put both big men underneath and jam up the middle, which everyone tried to do to the "old" Jazz, but karl Malone was to damn good to be stopped by a double team.  He would either split the D and score or make a quick pass outside to a waiting Hornecek.

Also, without spacing, the Jazz's first and secondary plays would not work.  Have you ever tried a pick and roll with a big body underneath?  From when I played, I was usually the big guy in the way.  The Pick and Roll is designed to eliminate one defender, not create traffic.  Also, the double screen, or circle screen, or whatever the Jazz call it (I call it brilliant), could never work if you had both Boozer and Memo underneath.  Could you imagine Kyle Korver running baseline, bumping into Memo, turning toward up toward the foul line, bumping into Booze, running back underneath the basket, bumping into Memo, whose defender is standing there guarding three people, than curling back toward the foul line and again bumping into Boozer?  Jerry Sloan would come unglued!  You would not see those three playing in a Jazz uniform again.  Just ask Gordon Giricek, he didn't like to run that play the right way.  Where is he now anyway, I forget.  

So to make a short story long, Memo creates proper spacing.  It works because the defender has to think about the "money shot".  He is an adequate defender, which is more than what can be said about Boozer, so you don't lose much with him in defending.  At least he boxes out half the time, which is a forgotten skill.  (Also, a really important and under-rated skill, REBOUNDS WIN GAMES!  If you want to here my Dennis Rodman rant, let me know and I'll prove that he was the key to the Bulls victories over the Jazz)

So, in my opinion, keep Memo and Milsap, let Boozer sign elsewhere.

Rant

The College football polls came out today, and was I wrong.  The USA Today poll, which the coaches are "obligated" to vote for the BCS National title winner was as follows;

#1-Florida (60)

#2-USC

#3-Texas

#4-Utah (1)

Ok, so coach Whit bucked the system, but right about what I thought.  Here is what surprised me, the AP top 25 poll (which is the Associated Press Poll) looks like this;

#1-Florida (48)

#2-Utah (16)

#3-USC (1)

#4-Texas

So, I was wrong again, but that would most likely be where I'd put my vote as well.  I could see the Utes playing with anyone and even beating some, if not most of the teams in the top ten.  I see them as even with Texas, and if they played USC 10 times, they would win 4 or 5.  But Florida is, well, Florida.  I would hate to see an Andy Ludwig coached "spread" offense go up against a true, well coached, by someone who wants to coach a spread, spread offense.  I think the Utah defense would do pretty well against Florida, it would be a close game because of it.  The difference is, that Florida's defense would almost laugh at the scheme's that are Utah's offense.  They would think they were in spring ball again.  It's not that I don't think Utah could move the ball, it's that they couldn't do it consistently.  I also don't want to say it has anything to do with Brian Johnson or the rest of the offensive players. 

 Andy Ludwig is not comfortable with the spread option.  That was evident last year when Johnson was hurt.  He started running a more traditional offense.  Ironic as it was, it was the offenses most productive year under Ludwig, not Brian Johnson's, but the offense.  I am looking forward to have a new offensive coordinator in Utah and I wish Andy Ludwig the best in his new job where he can run his offense and hopefully have success.

Urban Meyer

With the game ending with Florida winning, is Urban Meyer not the best coach in football right now?  The man has won more at Florida than the "Ole Ball Coach" Steve Spurrier.  Coach Meyer has been there for four years now.  Good record, Four years, TWO national championships.  I think that says, Good Damn Coach.

National Championship

National Championship, really?  Although I am a die hard Ute fan, I don't think that if I had a vote, that I would vote for Utah.  The reason being is USC, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas all look really good as well.  This is how I see the voting coming down (because the National Championship is a close game, not over yet);

#1-Florida

#2-USC

#3-Texas

#4-Oklahoma

#5-Utah

I don't like it, that's not how I would vote, but that's what is most likely going to happen.  I would put Utah 3rd, maybe even second.  In the A.P. poll, It might be different.  You may just see this;

#1-Florida (34)

#2-USC (23)

#3-Utah (3)

#4-Texas (2)

The (#)'s is how many first place votes the team gets.  I made up the numbers, but you get my point.  The good thing for Utah, and the Mountain West Conference, is that you should see (#) by Utah's name.  Most likely you will see more than one or two, but no more than five.  With the BCS (Even though I hate it) looking at re-modeling the system in two years, if the conference can maintain the success they have had over the last two years (If BYU would freaking win the bowl game), and even add another contender (Boise State), than it would be the Mountain West would be another BCS Conference. 

Next season might be somewhat of a down year for Utah, I mean that by saying they could be going anywhere from 8-4 to 10-2, depends on the QB play.  With that being said, BYU and TCU should be animals next year.  Easily the two best QB's in the MWC, maybe two of the top five returning in the west.  TCU is my pick to win the MWC next year, because I think that QB is the most under rated QB around.  He dominated all the teams they played all year but three.  Two of the three defenses he struggled against were top 10 D's.  The other was the third game of the year against Oklahoma.  So, hopefully, the big three will all show well against each other.  But, as a fan, GO UTES!

GO UTES!!

I was way off!!  I thought, from all my studies, that it would be a defensive showdown.  All my friends (BYU fans) thought I was looking through crimson colored glasses with no basis.  I knew Utah would win, I just thought it would be a defensive showdown.  Eight sacks, a forced fumble, and two picks (I hope Robert Johnson is ok, that looked nasty!).  Alabama had 31 total rushing yards.  31!!!  Holy cow.  I loved Jimmy Johnson's reaction after the game, "They made a believer out of me!"  This is awesome!  Utah should not be ranked any lower than 3rd!  Behind USC at 2 and whoever wins the Florida/OSU game.  I really hope that the nation got a good look at Paul Kruger, he had a great game.  Alabama had to triple team most of the time, which left it open for Stevenson Sylvester to cause havok.  It was an awesome defensive display against an Offensive line that was suppose to be to big and to athletic to handle.  Um, I think it was the other way around.  GO UTES

Maybe not...

After further thought and study, I think the Sugar Bowl might be a little different from what I first thought.  If you read my blog on sithfam.blogspot.com than you saw my prediction of Utah 34 and Alabama 29.  I have think it may be even closer.  It's going to be a defensive battle.  Here is more stats that I have found.  This is out of 119 FBS Division NCAA schools.  

Here are the Offensive stats for both schools.  

Pass Offense: Utah #42, 236.8 yards per game, 26 TD's-9 Int., 67.56 Comp. % and a 149.78 Passer Rating

Alabama #96, 170.7 YPG, 10 TD's-7 Int., 58.22 Comp %, and 125.76 Passer Rating.

Rush Offense: Utah #40, 168.42 YPG, 23 TD's

Alabama #22, 196.46 YPG, 32 TD's

3rd Down %: Utah #26, 45.5 %

Alabama #36, 42.4 %

Total Offense: Utah #31-Alabama #56

Pretty close numbers, 'Bama runs more and Utah passes more and each are more efficient at their prospective strength.  Now here are the Defensive stats... you might want to sit down.

Pass Defense: Utah #37, 191.08 YPG

Alabama #21, 178.08 YPG

Rush Defense: Utah #14, 104.8 YPG

Alabama #4 (yes 4), 78.8 YPG

(Here's the amazing part, both teams faces 3 top 20 rushing teams!!  AMAZING!)

Scoring Defense: Utah #12, 17.3 PPG

Alabama #6, 13 PPG

3rd Down %: Utah #8, 30.3 %

Alabama #3, 27.0 %

Total Defense: Utah #17-Alabama #3

Completely absurd stats.  I think this game might turn into the Boise State-TCU game.  I can't believe the defensive stats.  'Bama is scary, but so is Utah.  Here are some stats that will have an affect on the outcome.

Tackles for loss: Utah #34, 6.33 TFL PG

Alabama #47, 6.0 TFL PG

Sacks (this was surprisingly low): Utah #74, 1.75 PG 

Alabama #62, 1.85 PG

Tackles for loss allowed: Utah #25, 4.83 PG

Alabama #3, 3.77 PG

Sacks allowed: Utah #63, 1.92

Alabama #21, 1.31

Turn Over margin: Utah #16, +.92

Alabama #22, +.62

Penalties: Utah #86, 6.67 PG, 60.5 Yards PG

Alabama #5, 3.85 PG, 34.85 Yards PG

Net Punt Ave: Utah #26, 36.83 Yards, 28 Ret yards, 3.11 Yards per return (Thank you King Louie!)

Alabama #69, 34.63 Yards, 240 Ret yards, 9.23 Yards per return.

Punt Return: Utah #92, 6.53 Yards per return

Alabama #12, 13.08 YPR

Red Zone Offense: Utah #16, 19 Rush TD's-18 Pass TD's-10 Field Goals, 90% 

Alabama #34, 24 RTD's- 4 PTD's-15 FG's, 85%

Red Zone Defense: Utah #14, 9 RTD's-9 PTD's-5 FG's, 74% (out of 31 tries)

Alabama #61, 3 RTD's-8 PTD's-7 FG's, 82% (out of 22 tries)

Time of Possession: Utah #8, 32:38

Alabama #11, 32:11

So, not a big difference between the two.  The biggest that I see is Coach Whit's "bend but not break" philosophy.  Utah gives up more yards, but not many TD's.  The biggest reason why I still think Utah will win is the Special Teams.  King Louie will pin Alabama deep and Utah's punt coverage is amazing anyway.  This will be a field position game and turn over game.  If Utah can keep to form and protect the ball and have great punts, they can and will win.  With NFL quality LT Andre Smith out for the game, that tilts even more to Utah's advantage.  

My new prediction is;

Utah 17-Alabama 13