Why Utah will go undefeated...and why they won't

by JazzyUte on Jul 16, 2008 4:09 PM MDT in Football Comment 8 comments

WHY THEY WILL

This is Utah's most talented and deepest team since the 2004 squad and because of this alone, they have the tools necessary to go undefeated. Kyle Whittingham will also be entering his fourth season as head coach and it does appear he's made great strides since taking over the Utes in 2005. Utah also has a pretty favorable schedule this year, which means if they open the season with a victory over Michigan, it will position them for a solid run, much like the victory over Texas A&M did for the 2004 Utah team.

That schedule includes home games against Oregon State, TCU and BYU. The two toughest conference games will be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium, meaning if Utah does manage to beat the teams they should beat, the most imposing opponents come to their house. You can't overlook the importance of that.

The Utes will also be healthy, an issue that plagued them last year. Had Brian Johnson and Matt Asiata not gone down in the opener against Oregon State, the season could have dramatically played out differently, with Utah not only possibly winning the conference championship, but maybe even going undefeated. With a healthy Brian Johnson and Matt Asiata back -- along with Brent Casteel and an even more experienced Darrell Mack -- Utah has the weapons on offense needed to become a juggernaut. Their defense has the makings of being pretty solid too, especially the pass defense. If Utah shores up their run D, they could be a force.

WHY THEY WON'T

It seems like every year we as fans float this idea of an undefeated season around, only to watch it crumble early in the season. Since doing it in 2004, Utah has been talked up by various media outlets as a possible BCS contender in '05, '06 and even last year, though much of this talk was cooled by their perceived unfavorable schedule. Well it's no different this year, as undefeated and BCS talk has once again dominated the discussion. Of course, this time around, it all starts with "If Utah beats Michigan..." and that's the problem, the Utes probably won't beat Michigan.

I know, I know, the possibility is there, but as the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I was floating the idea around in '06 prior to UCLA and even last year, only to get burned. So I've learned from my mistakes and believe, until I actually see it, Utah won't beat Michigan. And that right there puts them at 0-1, thus ending any chance of an undefeated season.

However, there is no denying Michigan has some issues here. The Utes can exploit the newness and inexperience the Wolverines will have with Rodriguez's new offense and if they do that, maybe, just maybe, Utah can win. If they win, though, an undefeated season is not a guarantee. I say this because Utah has yet to play great for a complete season and for an undefeated season to take place, you need to play great for all 12-games. You can argue and debate why Utah hasn't had a complete season under Whittingham, but the fact is, they haven't. And until they do, I will cast a skeptical eye.

I'd like to think Utah has a chance to go undefeated, but I'm not going to get my hopes up. This team will be good and should contend for the conference championship, however, an undefeated season may just be asking for too much.

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Undefeated......I don't think so!

I love how you failed to mention the team that has, by far, the best chance at beating the Utes! BYU!!!!!!! We all know and hope that Utah and BYU get the the holy war being undefeated. But BYU will come out victorious again. Just like the last two years…...probably a defeat in a little more convincing fashion however! Good luck Utes. And again, THANK YOU KYLE!!!! So glad you chose poorly! GO COUGARS!!!!!!!!!!

by GoCougars! on Jul 17, 2008 7:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Why are you writing like you are a 14-year old girl?

Maybe you are and if so, I’m sorry. I hope you grow out of it with age.

You should try to limit your exclamation points, and learn how to use an ellipsis.

by Ute in DC on Jul 17, 2008 9:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michigan

Sorry, JazzyUte but I think we will beat Michigan. They are too inexperienced. I think we go into Ann Arbor and take them down. the media will go crazy tho. Michigan losing their opening game two years in a row? Not to mention they were both at home. I think we could do it. This is one of the easier schedules we have had in a long time. As for this GoCougars! person, really? You think we will both be undefeated? I think you might be surprised. Northern Iowa might come in there and dominate that game offensively and defensively. There killing your undefeated season.

GO UTES!!

by Jman87 on Jul 17, 2008 10:29 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Big year

This could be a big year for the Utes and Cougars. Utah always seems to get up for the big games while BYU comes out flat in their biggest games. Utah falls against lower competition and BYU loses games they shouldn’t as well. Maybe this is the year they both put it together and play for more then local bragging rights in late Nov. I just don’t see either team going undefeated although I probably wouldn’t pick either to lose any individual week. Undefeated just doesn’t happen very often and there is usually a loss that shouldn’t have happened. Go cougs and go MWC.

by bigcoug on Jul 17, 2008 4:23 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Beat Michigan???????

Up frontt? I am a Cougar fan. Never, ever will be a ute. But I appreciate the fire that you guys have in your belly. IF, things go to plan, our game with one another in November could be titanic. It would begreat to draw attention to oursleves and the MWC. But we both have to win eleven games for all the yelling screaming. And the BYU fan at the top of the comment list, GET REAL!!! We need to win a couple of games before you behave like that….

BYU come out flat against N. Iowa? Probably not, though I expect N.I. to be fired up at the prospect of playing a spoiler in our season. Much lIke App. State did with Michigan. So does N.I. beat us? Nahhhhh, Nope.

Utah against Michigan? Is Michigan so-called lack of expereince going to be exploited by Utah? Nope. And I’ll tell you why. Rodriques will have those kids at Ann Arbor playing their collective ass off. Lose two opening games. two seasons in a row? Nope. Utah and Coack Kyle would kill to have the players that Michigan signs. Remember the Pryor kid from Pennsylvania that signed with Ohio State. He was that close to signing with the Woverines. You never heard Utah mentioned in the mix for his playing skills. Too bad BYU didn’t recruit him though. The kids at Michigan can play anywhere. The kids at Utah, albeit good football players would be down on the depth chart in Ann Arbor. And I promise to be sitting in front of a tv to cheer the utes on…...(i always cheer for conf. teams…..even the utes…...unlike ute fans who pray for a melt down of BYU)

And will we(the Krugers and the Yewts goo undefeated? Maybe…..lets hope so…it will make for a pre-game media blitz the state of Utah has never seen. Who will win???
Maybe utah because it is a home game and last game for Johnson and several other notable ute players. But this guy has to say that the Kruegers will light the fires and remind the ute faithful what Cougar fans have seen for the last thirty-years. One more party for the Cats at RES…....good luck you guys…...we’ll all need it.

by michigan on Jul 17, 2008 4:52 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, a big year

I think both BYU and Utah are going to have big years. I hope they do, the crappy conference needs it. I think both teams can meet in November with zero to one loss each which will make it a crazy game! I hope that happens…and I hope BYU pulls it out! Go Cougs!

by trublu on Jul 17, 2008 10:46 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Big year....for the team down south

What a lame article. Are Ute fans that naive to think they have a shot at a “great year”? That would mean they would have to beat BYU which will not happen. And they aren’t beating Michigan. Let’s face it. They’ll have a nice season. They’ll lose to UNLV or Colorado State or some lame team they should beat up on, and they’ll lose the big one(s) as well. But 2nd place isn’t that bad! Go BLUE!

by BYUCougars on Jul 18, 2008 11:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs