Posted on 01/03/2009 12:25:39 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
1. Utah ... national champion?! Why not?
I still don't believe this is the best team in America, but without a playoff, it's all about the résumé.
This wasn't a fluky win and this wasn't a case of Alabama coming out flat. Utah straight-up whipped the Tide on both sides of the ball, and remember, this was against a team that was No. 1 for most of the year and was a quarter away from playing for the national title. This was a great, great 'Bama team, and Utah beat it like a drum.
This isn't 1984 BYU; that Cougars team didn't beat anyone as good as the 2008 Oregon State team, much less a TCU or an Alabama. This isn't 2004 Utah or 1999 Marshall or 1998 Tulane. So where, really, should Utah be put in the final rankings? If you're going to say No. 1, no matter what happens in the BCS championship game, it's hard to argue. Utah has to be ranked ahead of USC (on the deserve factor, although I still think USC wins easily on a neutral field) and I still want to see the Fiesta Bowl and the national championship. But even if Texas does what everyone thinks it's going to do and beats Ohio State, then Utah can't be any lower than third behind the Florida-Oklahoma winner and Texas. However, if Florida wins, then you could argue that Utah's win over 'Bama was more impressive than Florida's win in the SEC title game (even though Andre Smith was missing from the Sugar Bowl), and that the Utes deserve to be first over the Gators. If OU wins, then maybe No. 3 ... at worst. At the very least, the Mountain West needs ......
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
Utah beat Alabama because Alabama thought they could just show up and automatically get a W. Injuries along the OL didn’t help.
Typical media overreaction.
I’m a diehard Gator fan, and I’m glad we did not have to play them last night. Not sure who I’d vote for iff’n I had a vote. Those Utes looked good.
A playoff system is the only way to determine the best team this year. Anything less, is mythical.
It’s college football. It’s automatically second-rate ball compared to the NFL. Playoffs won’t help or hurt.
Well, they played up to their potential this year, and I give them their due, but Florida, Oklahoma, and probably Texas would slap ‘em dizzy like a redheaded step-child. Top 10? Sure.
I spend some time at Utah....good school ...but Basketball was the big news when I studied there....
Plenty of people (including me) thought that 'Bama was going to easily win over the Utes. I think there are four teams that, depending on the day could beat the other three - FL, UT, USC and Texas.
It is a crying shame that there isn't a playoff system. Utah proved that they deserve at least a share of the National Championship.
Based on what I saw last night, I think if Utah and Alabama both bring their "A game", the Utes still win. That was a dominant win. I think the three best teams in the country (in order) are USC, Florida and Utah.
I would put USC up against Cincinnati, Cleveland or Detroit on any given Sunday and give points.
“Well, they played up to their potential this year, and I give them their due, but Florida, Oklahoma, and probably Texas would slap ‘em dizzy like a redheaded step-child. Top 10? Sure.”
Interesting theory. Loved to know for sure on the field.
Utah got some good information from Urban Meyer on how to whip Bama. I’m a diehard SEC gal, but Utah was very impressive.
wow, thats a silly thing to say.
I hope we have a split championship again this year, whether its with Utah or USC winning the AP. Probably won’t happen though.
The BCS conferences remind me of the Ivy League crowd in DC.
I think Utah could be competitive with any team in the country, and that includes even my Gators, and I would think their former head coach would even agree with me.
Ever see an Oklahoma game this year...they are awesome!
Apparently Bama fans are whining because they think Urban Meyer gave Utah some tips on how to play Bama.
“Ever see an Oklahoma game this year...they are awesome!”
Have they played a team with a real defense yet?
Is there any Big 12 team in the Top 20 in team defense this year? The Big 12 is an exciting offensive conference, though.
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