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 ...
Go Utes!
I think Utah has won 8 bowl games in a row.
They beat the snot out of Michigan at Michigan.
Beat Alabama in their own backyard. Alabama was rated #1 for most of the season.
Since Utah is undefeated you could find a link of them beating someone that beat one of the teams that are playing for the “title”.
Urban Meyers was at Utah when they were last undefeated.
I think Utah has a pretty strong case.
Keys to the win: First, a player (I think left tackle) talked to an agent literally hours before the game. He was sent home. His replacement, from the right side of the line, got hurt in the second series. Two starters gone, and they couldn’t protect the QB at all. The first Utah series wasn’t just a no huddle...I think it must have been scripted as well. They weren’t even waiting for signals from the sideline. They caught Bama flat footed, and they had trouble with the no huddle pace all game. Kicking - at least two missed field goals and poor punting all game. This also hurt them against Florida. Bama is young, though....and I hate to tell you Auburn fans this: You won’t beat Alabama for a good long while.
Let the Trash talk begin....Utah for #1...Florida didn’t beat Alabama or Oklahoma like Utah beat Alabama...
I have an idea about this whole deal on National Championship. All college teams are going to have to play in some sort of organized fashion out of conference.
Georgia plays 6 conference games 4 non-confrence. Next year Georgia has to play 5 top teams from each conference and 5 from SEC likewise the rest of the college world. Or add a game 6 and 6 I hate it when college football is over!
Then we go to the bowls with the teams even won/lost records.
There is no comparison to playing in the SEC week after week to any other conference, we beat each other up every week.
On ANY given Saturday ANY college team can be beat.
The best car don't aways win the race. The best team don't always win the game. It is imposable.
Gator Nation rules this year! Bring that crystal football home to the south where it belongs.
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