First Real Test

This week marks Utah's first real test of the season. Sure, they played a tough game against Pitt, but the 2 teams have gone in opposite directions since than and Pitt now looks more like a chihuahua at 4-3 right now. (get it, pitt, chihuahua, man I'm funny.) Utah is another beast all together. Rolling into Air Force at 7-0 and ranked 14th in total offense and 5th in total defense. The schedule the Utes have run so far this season though has not been pretty. They have the 119th (out of 120) strongest schedule based on opponents thus far. Yah, the MWC is no where near going to get a BCS birth. Not with New Mexico, Wyoming and UNLV in the conference. They are three of the worst teams in the NCAA right now. But, in 2008, Utah faced this same schedule and barley squeaked out most of those, albeit they were better versions of the same teams, still though, Utah is blowing these guys out of the water and giving valuable playing time to the backups. But here comes the meat of the schedule. First is Air Force, who has the top ranked rushing offense in the nation. With Utah being ranked 6th in rush defense, something has to give. Typically, in this matchup, both will. Utah will give up yards and field goals, but no TD's. With how good Utah is, I am saying Utah will not only win, but win the points as well. They are favored by 5 but will win by 14.

Utah State is a 24 point dog at Nevada. All I can say is bet the wolfpack. And bet big.

Nationally, there aren't a whole ton of interesting games. Except the fact that most of the top 10 are AT somewhere rather than hosting. Auburn is at Ole' Miss and could be interesting because Ole Miss can score and but I think Auburn will outscore them. Oregon is at USC, sounds daunting, but Oregon's strength's line up with USC weaknesses. Oregon by 21 here. TCU at UNLV, ha ha, not going to be close, unless TCU is looking at Utah next week, which I doubt. Even than, TCU by 21 because they slept through it. Michigan State is at Iowa which may prove to be the most interesting match up yet. Iowa is a 4.5 point favorite, I would bet Michigan State here, at least to cover the spread. This one may be won by a kicker. Missouri is at Nebraska, and with how Nebraska played last week, this one might get crazy as well. I want to say Nebraska by 3, but... I don't know, it's a pick um game and I say over time. Unless Mizzou blows them up early, which they could. Oklahoma is hosting Colorado, and go Sooners big. Ohio State at Minnesota, well, go Buckeyes. Stanford is visiting Washington and is going to just blow of the huskies because they have had trouble with bigger, more physical teams. They can out "cute" you but they can't take a punch in the mouth and Stanford comes out swinging with both fists.

Nothing really compelling except those 2 in the middle, and I'm hoping for both undefeated teams to lose.

Biggest Joke of the Weekend

Wow, after the first couple weeks of the NFL season, I would have called you a liar if you told me the Seahawks would be 4-2 after 6 games. I still don't believe in them being a good team yet, however they did beat the Bears last week so who knows?

Utah beat up CSU 59-6. Well, that's a bit more than my 32 point prediction. I will say though, this is the most impressive I've seen a Utah team since 2004. Even in 2008 when they finished 2nd in the voting as the only unbeaten team in football, they barely squeaked some games through and didn't hit their stride till after the TCU game (which they only won because of some Horn Frog botched field goals). Utah is getting into the meat of their schedule however and it looks to be a little tougher from here on out. AF next week, than TCU, ND, SDSU, and finally BYU.

Speaking of which, I should have bet this game. BYU beat Wyoming in Provo 25-20. More than my 2 point opinion, but Wyoming covered.

I said Hawaii by 5? Well, I meant 50. Hawaii 45-7. Go Aggies!

Missouri beat Oklahoma 36-27 effectively knocking them out of the National Championship contender position.

Auburn beat LSU 24-17.

Wisconsin 31- Iowa 30.

Nebraska over Oklahoma State 51-41. I thought Nebraska had a good defense? I guess not.

The biggest surprise to me this weekend in college football was not on the field. It was the joke of BCS rankings. Auburn jumped everyone and got to the #1 spot when Oregon should be there. I really hope it works itself out to where you see Oregon vs the winner of Utah/TCU (because Nevada finally beats Boise). I still don't believe the SEC is all it's cracked up to be and I think they are even more over rated when I see a team like Auburn, who has zero defense, vault in the poles. They don't face another real challenge until the end of the season either. Their last game in against Alabama, which they will lose big and than Alabama will pole vault over who ever is left unbeaten. Even if it is Oregon form the Pac-10. The SEC is a joke and they don't deserve to have a National Championship contender this year.

BCS rankings:

#1 Auburn

#2 Oregon

#3 Boise State

#4 TCU

#5 Michigan State

#6 Missouri

#7 Alabama

#8 Utah

#9 Oklahoma

#10 Wisconsin

It's a joke at how high these guys rate the SEC teams. I hope LSU goes on to lose against Alabama and Arkansas and Alabama loses to Mississippi State. And Auburn loses to Alabama would make it so no SEC team has fewer than 2 loses. NO SEC IN TITLE THIS YEAR! This all hinges on Oregon going into LA this week and taking care of business against the Trojans, but hey, wouldn't it be funny if the winner of Utah/TCU is ranked 1 and Boise is ranked 2 because the previous happens and Oregon loses to USC but beats Arizona and Michigan State loses to Iowa and Missouri loses to Nebraska? Ok, I am dreaming, but it could work!

Welcome to the Big Time

The Pac-10 announced today that they will have 2 divisions when Utah and Colorado join to form the Pac-12. It will be split north and south. North division will consist of Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon St., Stanford and California. South will be Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona St., UCLA and USC. What this means for Utah? I am not really sure anything for now. I think the divisions are fairly equal as far as power structure, as opposed to the Big XII as of late with Texas and Oklahoma both being in the south division. The media and school representatives have all been clamoring "Don't split us from southern Cal!" I think that sentiment is over rated. They all want to stay playing in southern Cal every year for recruiting purposes. With whatever TV contract they get, they will be on TV and that is truly all that matters for recruiting. If you are going into a kids home and telling him that he could play at Utah and compete for a Rose Bowl or National Championship and play games in either the same time zone or within a cheap flight to SLC, it's going to be easy either way.

With a similar idea, Oregon is at half time right now against UCLA and I know UCLA isn't great, but watching Oregon and their ever changing uniforms is awe inspiring. I just can't believe that the offense is that good, I mean 5 drives, 372 yards, 32 points in 10 minutes time of possession. I don't know how in the world they are not #1 in the BCS pole. Oklahoma?! Really?

With that being sad, here are my picks for the week.

Utah is hosting Colorado State. Utah is a 31 point favorite and I agree with that. CSU is an up and coming team that needs more experience along the O-line. They look like a middle of the pack team in the MWC next year. But not this year. Utah by 32

BYU is coming into the point in their schedule that can make you think they are a decent team. They play Wyoming at home this week and are favored by 10. They both have pretty similar stats but Wyoming has played a much tougher schedule. I will pick BYU because they are at home but I still haven't seen anything from the Cougars offense to think they can score more than 24 points. So I will say BYU by 2. Prove me wrong Cougars.

Utah State is hosting Hawaii and the odds have it Hawaii by 3.5. I want to say the Utah State will jump up and bite Hawaii in the butt, however I can't see any angle that tells me that. Hawaii by 5.

I am going with some extra picks this week because it's a big week for some of the top BCS teams. I mean some BIG games. #1 Oklahoma is playing at #11 Missouri with OU being a 6 point favorite. I am not sure Mizzou can beat them but I haven't seen anything from OU this year that tells me they are #1 in anything. OU by 2.

#6 LSU is visiting #4 Auburn. Auburn scored 63 points in regulation last week against Arkansas but it was the first time I think the offense "clicked". They won't be able to do that against LSU's defense, which is why they are still undefeated. But I don't think LSU's Gary Crowton* offense can generate enough points to match them. Auburn is a 4.5 favorite and 51.5 point over/under. It won't get anywhere near that high. I am guessing Auburn 23- LSU 17.

#15 Iowa hosting #13 Wisconsin. Iowa by 3

#16 Nebraska at #14 Oklahoma State. Big time offense against a pretty good defense. In this game, offense wins, OSU by 6.

* means to look here for a rant.

So, this week I heard a local radio host ask BYU fans if they wanted to keep current OC Robert Anai or bring in Gary Crowton to be the OC. "Are you kidding me?" I thought. "What BYU fan would want that mess to bring back memories of the worst times at the program since before Lavell. I was shocked when the majority said they would only as an OC, but they would. I repeat, "ARE YOU BLEEPING KIDDING ME?!" I will tell you a funny story. There was a guy who was a head coach at Louisiana Tech and had an awesome offensive attack for 3 years. After that, he became an OC in the NFL with the Bears. The first year was good, they ranked 3rd in the NFL in total offense and the Bears have yet to eclipse the total yards for that year. The next year however, is a different story. They were one of the worst offenses in the NFL with the most penalties. (sound familiar?) He than became a head coach at a major college football program with a very good history of winning. Most BYU fans want to forget everything in that time frame but I will remind them anyway. 2 years of AWESOME offense... than it all fell apart. Bad, undisciplined teams on the field, and off the field, well, it was even worse. Players being suspended, expelled and arrested. Even a sex scandal (gasp). Than he went to Oregon as an OC and had 2 years of excellent offense and than 2 years of really bad offense when LSU bailed him out again. Guess what, he had 2 years of awesome offense and the last 2 years? Well, LSU ranked 112 in total offense last year and this year is currently ranked 92nd. Really? BYU fans want that in Provo?! Ok guys, you are probably glad that Bronco or Tom Holmo would NEVER bring that joke back into town.

Surprising Weekend

Utah beat Wyoming in Laramie for perhaps the last time ever. The weather was nice and Utah looked bored while beating down the cowboys. With a great defensive effort, the Utes won 30-6. Not the beating I thought, but still strong enough to move the Utes to 9th in the AP, Coaches and BCS polls. Pretty good, and if they continue to win, they'll continue to climb. They also covered the line so if you bet on my prediction, you won!

BYU's defense again provided a spirited effort against the Horned Frogs. It wasn't enough however and TCU rolled the Cougars 31-3. That one was also a surprise because TCU looks really strong and BYU looks barely breathing. They are coming back to life though in surprising fashion.

Auburn and Arkansas combined for over 1000 yards in a wacky offensive game. They also combined for 108 points. I was wrong again in this one as Auburn beat the Razorbacks 65-43 in regulation. It was a crazy game, especially for an SEC game.

Dan Mullin of Mississippi State coached his team to a victory against his friend and mentor Urban Meyer and the Gators. They won a defensive battle 10-7 that seemed more like a traditional SEC game than from 2 of the people who created the spread option attack. Mississippi State looks like an upcoming team to beat in the SEC though and I'm looking forward to the traditional powers losing their seats to teams like S. Carolina and Miss State.

Also though, #1 Ohio State got beat by #18 Wisconsin, which was their first real test. Texas also knocked of #5 Nebraska which is why Utah was allowed to climb to #9 in all the polls. Now that the BCS standings are out, I will be focusing more on that as well. So here is the first BCS Standings release through the top 10:

#1 Oklahoma 6-0

#2 Oregon 6-0

#3 Boise State 6-0

#4 Auburn 7-0

#5 TCU 7-0

#6 LSU 7-0

#7 Michigan State 7-0

*8 Alabama 6-1

#9 Utah 6-0

#10 Ohio State 6-1