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