Utes, somehow, still alive in Pac-12 South race
by JazzyUte on Nov 13, 2011 10:40 PM MST
in Football
Email
PrintHow mucked up is the Pac-12 South? Well, look at it this way: Utah, who started 0-4 in the Pac-12, is still mathematically alive with only two weeks left in conference play.
Sure, it's a very big long shot, and I'm not even sure I like the idea of the Utes going up against the Oregon Ducks, but with their win Saturday over the UCLA Bruins, and Arizona State's loss to Washington State, Utah is now only one game back in the division race.
I don't know if I should be impressed or mortified that the Pac-12 South really does seem that awful.
Regardless, the Utes enter their final two games with an outside chance of playing for a shot at the Rose Bowl.
Still, it's not likely and would require a total implosion by the Sun Devils - as ASU would need to lose their final two against Arizona and Cal for Utah to have a prayer.
But with Dennis Erickson as your coach, I guess anything is technically possible.
Of course, all of this is a moot point if Utah can't win Saturday.
The Utes travel to take on the now resurgent Washington St. Cougars, who are fresh off their surprising victory over the Sun Devils. Like last week's game, the Utes now face an apparent streaking opponent coming off a huge home win.
Hopefully the results are the same.
If Utah leaves Pullman with a victory and the Sun Devils continue their losing ways, the final week of the season will decide who plays Oregon in the conference title game - with UCLA taking on USC (they'd need to lose), Utah hosting Colorado (they'd need to win) and Arizona State playing Cal (they'd need to lose also).
Crazy, huh?
'Tis life in the Pac-12
68 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
We Will take care of ASSSSSSu for you guys! Just win out!
I’m Pulling for you guys, and I know hope seems grim with us against them but its a rivalry game, anything can happen!!!!
Good luck Utes!
Go Wildcats!!!!!!
I know that you guys are capable of beating ASU. UCLA beat them. You guys killed UCLA. The transitive property says that it is possible. Do it for everything that is right in the world. We would probably beat ASU if we were to play them right now. When we played them, it was our current starting QB Jon Hays’s first collegiate start. We also turned the ball over five times, which gave ASU three gift touchdowns that put the game out of reach. We have clearly corrected our turnover issues.
This makes me more sick..
Watching Arizona State fall apart the last two weeks makes me believe that if we hadn’t of shot ourselves repeatedly in the foot we would have beaten them. The goofs only road win was against us which we pretty much handed to them on a plate. Add to that the Washington game we should have been up 21-0 at halftime..The division could be in our grasp and not be counted on for ASU to lose to a team that just handed Colorado it’s first win..sigh.
But to take as consolation ASU will win the division only to get embarrassed on national tv by oregon.
If you think YOU'RE sick
imagine being a Trojan fan, haha
Going to be an "exciting" final week if ASU loses to Zona next week and you guys beat WSU
Truly the south is awful but hey, screw it, “Winners of the Pac-12 south first year in the conference” is way better than “Not good enough to win the Pac-12 south”.
Hope you do it but don’t be too offended if I say I am not very worried about the Pac-12 championship game even if you guys make it.
"We Believe" - Rudy Fernandez
The South Division isn't as bad as it appears
USC is 8-2 – 5-2 in conference play. With them losing their bowl eligibility, the teams that would, in a normal year, finish 2nd-4th are fighting for the top spot. While I agree that sanctions against SC only help the Utes, I’m simply pointing out that the Trojans are clearly controlling the South.
Stupid What If Game
What If Wynn doesn’t go down.
It might be red colored glasses, but I could easily see us with only 1 conference loss if Wynn didn’t go down.
Oh well, injuries are a part of the game, and I am extremely pleased with how this team rebounded.
Even
If Hays had been picked to be the starting QB in spring ball, I think 1 or 2 conference losses are reasonable. Not that we should have picked Hays, but with a little time he seems to be handling the pressure and speed just fine.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 14, 2011 9:47 AM MST up reply actions
Utes are the best team in the south!
Honestly…I think we match up with USC pretty well when we are healthy…and if they would have come to our place we would have beat them.
Yes we ‘shot ourselves in the foot’ with Washington and ASU but that was during the Wynn situation. If we would have had a stable situation at QB (right now I would take Wynn or Hays) I think we would have had a much better chance.
I really like our chances and where we fit. I honestly do not care about the PAC 12 south championship situation this year…I just want to win out and get to a bowl game. an 8-4 season this year is pretty sweet to me and I am already looking forward to next year! Go Utes!
Agree, minus USC
I think Utah is currently the 2nd best team in the South though, and if Wynn didn’t get injured at such an inopportune time, I think Utah takes the South even if USC is eligible because we have such a favorable schedule this year.
Either case, I’m proud of our team, they are looking good, and with A LOT of luck, we may get a shot at a +1.
I think
That of all the eligible teams, Utah is the only one that could give Oregon a game. Most of the time, we would get hammered, but there’s a chance we get a few early picks and big plays and make a game out of it.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 14, 2011 9:48 AM MST up reply actions
We are the only team with a shot because we have a great Defense.
Good defense is much better to have as an underdog than a good offense.
My opinion.
Utah does not have enough of an offense to keep up with Oregon
Even if Utah’s D could contain Oregon offense somewhat, I don’t see Utah’s offense putting up enough points to pull off the win. Moot point really, because it’s extremely unlikely that we will see a game between the two teams this year.
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
Agreed, but...
they said the same thing about Alabama. You never know until the game is played. That said, you nailed it. Likely a moot point.
Disagree
Can’t assume we would have beat USC at home. They are clearly just a notch below Stanford which is in the top 10. We definitely had our chance to beat them and couldn’t force OT.
ASU… Can’t argue we are better than them. It just sounds stupid after they beat us at home by 3 TDs.
We’ll see what happens the rest of the season. ASU is bad on the road. Utah is trending up. There are still two weeks to play. We’ll see what happens.
WSU has one of the best passing offenses we’ve seen all year. ASU leads the conference in interceptions and just got lit up. Their receiver Wilson is going to present some match up problems for us and their QB is very accurate. Almost 500 yards passing on Sat night.
by UteinBrooklyn on Nov 14, 2011 9:20 PM MST up reply actions
Pac-12 South
With the exception of Utah and USC, the Pac-12 South has shown itself to be a relatively weak division by losing so many out of conference games.
UCLA – losing to Texas and Houston.
ASU – losing to the Illini.
Arizona – losing to Missouri.
Colorado – losing to everybody but the CSU Rams.
And with the Pac-12’s strongest team Oregon losing (again) to a top OOC opponent, no wonder our conference rates 4th in comparative strength.
Nevertheless, it is great that Utah still has a long shot to play for the Pac-12 South title.
UofA lost to OkSt
not Mizz
I should be working right now...
Can someone provide a link to the tie-break rules?
I realize ASU has to lose out, UCLA needs to win one (I assume not against CAL?).
I know it’s been spelled out somewhere on this board, but it is still fun to entertain the idea.
Go Utes! Go Cal! Go Arizona!… and maybe someone else…
by TheOrangeUte on Nov 14, 2011 9:34 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
If I recall correctly, after your back-breaking loss to ASU when there was much hand-wringing among the Utah faithful, I made a rather bold prediction (that some of you may have dismissed).
I predicted that your team would:
1. Beat Pitt (which you did)
2. Lose to Cal (which you did)
3. Beat Oregon State (which you did)
4. Beat Arizona (which you did)
5. Beat Ucla (which you did).
I also predicted you would lose to Wazzu and beat Colorado, resulting in a 7-5 season.
Maybe next time, you’ll listen to your Uncle SoCal Oski.
Congratulation on a truly dominant de-pantsing of that extension campus in the fake blue (how the hell did we lose to those inept spasmodics is still a mystery), and best of luck to you guys the rest of the way. Even if you don’t make the conference championship game, I think you guys had a pretty damn good season this year (considering the bad luck).
Being an Old Blue means embracing the "meh".
I am glad you were right about the last five (except Cal of course)
but I hope you are wrong about WAZZU.
[shameless self promotion] You are always welcome to visit my blog @ bigbenstechnicalfoul.blogspot.com, I always try to make it fun and enjoyable. I most often talk teams in Utah, but I also like to talk national stuff. [/shameless self promotion]
by BigBenSportsGuy on Nov 14, 2011 10:08 AM MST up reply actions
Five and OH, huh?
After getting killed by ASU at home, I would have dismissed your optimistic predictions also.
As to what basis do you attribute your amazing predictive skills? Gut feel, perhaps a dislike for those above mentioned schools (with an exception of UCLA of course) or a premonition that 60 yard passing days by our sub QB would somehow get the job done.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Nov 14, 2011 10:50 AM MST up reply actions
Heh. Call it a combo of gut and the advantage of at least some objectivity. :) It’s much easier to get a feel for games when you don’t have a pony in the race.
Actually, a lot of these predictions were really easy. OSU and Ucla were at your crib, and both of them are pretty horrible on the road this year. Arizona is in shambles. And Cal is much better at home than on the road. My guess about Wazzu is because not only are they much better this year than folks want to admit, but also because you’re playing there on their last home game.
The nice thing is your team and fanbase is growing on me (despite your horrible colors), so the lucky fact I have been right has been nice. It’s a different story with some other teams about whom I’ve managed to be accurate.
Good luck against the Cougs!
Being an Old Blue means embracing the "meh".
Horrible colors
It’s interesting that someone supporting a team that sports so much blue would talk about us having horrible colors. ;)
by UnHoly Ram on Nov 14, 2011 11:28 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Good predictions
And glad to hear you like us! I like us, too.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 14, 2011 11:30 AM MST up reply actions
Random fact
Utah was the first team to play in Martin Stadium in it’s current format. They will be the last, as Phase III renovations start pretty much the day after the game
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Nov 14, 2011 1:26 PM MST up reply actions
Good luck to Cal the rest of the year.
Hopefully your 7 team parley regarding Utah football doesn’t payoff.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Nov 14, 2011 7:48 PM MST up reply actions
I must I say
I’ve been impressed with PAC fans thus far. Most of you seem to be pretty classy. Except more and more I see ASU fans as being like Boise State fans with a tan. What’s up with the Whiskey Tango at ASU?
Just an observation. Hope I’m wrong.
The ASU fans haven't bothered me.
At least, not since recruiting season. The UCLA fans seem to have a much higher-than-average percentage of jerks, however.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Nov 15, 2011 3:53 PM MST up reply actions
Trying to forecast Cal wins and losses,
while proving impossible, does tend to sharpen one’s predictive skills.
Ducks GOOOOD. Fuskies BAAAAAD.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Nov 14, 2011 11:54 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
You heard it here first Jazzy...
After watching the WSU v ASU game, and seeing the kind of chances Halliday takes on passes, Im going bold.
Utah D gets 3 picks saturday!…
THREE
I actually really like our chances against WSU
Whenever our defense takes on a freshman QB, the results are pretty good for the U. Our defensive scheme is complex and constantly changing that it is almost impossible to get a read. Add in the fact that our front four can get pressure without blitzing, and I think the best cougar QB in the west will have a rough game.
Did you see the Freshman QB on Sat night?
Guy threw for nearly 500 yards against ASU. Those yards weren’t dink and dunks and slants where the receiver blew past a LB. He can throw deep, vertical passes with great accuracy, made good reads and decisions, and has a fantastic receiver in Wilson.
Utah’s front seven will have to rattle him early and often to disrupt his timing and rhythm. I’m not too worried about WSU’s running game but the secondary is in a test.
by UteinBrooklyn on Nov 14, 2011 9:34 PM MST up reply actions
Our line
should be able to get some pressure on him without too much help. Pressure without blitzing is a great way to take a freshman QB out of his game.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 15, 2011 9:29 AM MST up reply actions
No film and it's not like ASU is leading the league in any defensive categories.
Here are the ranks:
Total D:
3- Utah (335 yds/gm) (27th in the nation)
7- ASU (405 yds/gm) (77th in the nation)
Pass Efficiency D:
2- Utah (115) (22nd in the nation)
8- ASU (135) (76th in the nation)
Pass D:
4- Utah (235 yds/gm) (76th in the nation)
8- ASU (262 yds/gm) (98th in the nation)
Rush D:
3- Utah (101 yds/gm) (9th in the nation) (and Stanford and USC are 7th and 8th)
5- ASU (143 yds/gm) (53rd in the nation)
Scoring D:
1- Utah (19 pts/gm) (17th in the nation)
5- ASU (24 pts/gm) (48th in the nation)
I feel confident that with a week’s worth of game film on the kid, plus our D is better than ASU’s D, we should be able to hold WSU below their average of 31 points and that we should be able to score at least 31 ourselves (the average that they’re giving up).
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Nov 15, 2011 4:03 PM MST up reply actions
Yes the kid scares me, but
The reason I think we can stop him: Look what we did to Nick Foles.
Don't even want it.
Having lost to both USC and ASU I don’t even want it. Getting in the back door when 1 team is on probation and the other handily beat us just doesn’t seem worthy of much of a celebration. Finish strong and win out and achieve 5-4 in conference play with those 3 turds that they dropped and it will be a very successful season but not anywhere near a championship campaign.
We need to get to a place with the OL/RB/QB positions such that when someone goes down it doesn’t cost 2-3 games. Look at WSU and they are on their 3rd qb of the year and the offense doesn’t seem to be an issue.
On the upside we seem to have it on defense where we’ve lost a number of players and had little or no drop off but Wynn going down left a gaping hole and if JWIV were to miss more than a series it appears that it would be catastrophic.
"...And on the 7th turnover the Utes rested."
I call it, college football.
I definitely want it, though I’m only optimistic it will actually happen. The only “back door” characteristic is USC, but it is what it is. ASU man-handled us, but were not the same team as that game. If bad luck or unfortunate injuries can haunt part of our season, they can haunt other teams as well. If things shake up to where we get in the game, AWESOME i say. You want us to recruit deeper at OL/RB/QB?.. Getting in that game would sure help recruiting, so i think.. you DO want it :)
ok maybe I do.
"...And on the 7th turnover the Utes rested."
by CityCreekUte on Nov 14, 2011 3:25 PM MST up reply actions
Look at WSU and they are on their 3rd qb of the year and the offense doesn’t seem to be an issue.
WSU also is 4-6
From what I have noticed (Nuss and Co. at CougCenter will have better observations than this)
The defense and special teams have been atrocious this year.
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Nov 14, 2011 1:28 PM MST up reply actions
I think we should win...
But should and will are two different things. We’ve got the better team and better coaches (I know most Coug fans aren’t sold on Wulff).
However, this season has taught me one thing: don’t expect nothin’.
don't expect nothin each week
that’s the motto of the pac-12 south this year
with ASU giving Wazzu new life(still can make a bowl) you never know.
That said I hope our momentum pushes us to a W this week.
Most aren't sold on him
but if he succeeds in Pullman the majority of us are going to be psyched. Who wouldn’t want an alum to succeed as his university’s head football coach (I am excluding Bruins fans of course)?
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Nov 15, 2011 1:46 PM MST up reply actions
Wait. What am I missing??
I think the blog post on espn has it wrong…
http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=ncfnation&id=53101
If UCLA beats Colorado (very likely), loses to USC (very likely) and ASU loses to AZ (possible), then we’re likely in the Championship game. I don’t think the ASU/Cal game matters at all. In other words, I think everyone’s assertion that ASU must lose out for Utah to have a chance is wrong?
All three teams would have the same PAC-12 record so there is a three-way tie. (1) Head-to-head wouldn’t matter because Utah beat UCLA who beat ASU who beat Utah. (2) Best South record is both Utah and ASU, so UCLA is out.
The espn blog states that you then jump back to (1), head-to-head. Says who?! That’s not how I read the rules. Logically, you don’t go 1, 2, 1. Rather, you go 1, 2, 3. Right? What am I missing?
What am I missing? Given the scenerio above, shouldn’t they then look at (3) record against next highest division team, (4) record in common conference games, and (5) highest BCS?
Yeah, I'm just assuming we jump back to head-to-head once the third team is eliminated...
Is it absolutely right? I don’t know.
Don't think so
I’m pretty sure once one team is eliminated from a tie-breaker, the tie-breaker logic restarts with all the remaining teams.
So yeah, ASU would have to lose out and Cal has to drop one more.
Not sure I’d want that to happen though. Yeah, Utah gets to claim division champs, but do I want to see them run out of Autzen?
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
If UCLA loses either game, they would finish 2-3 in the division.
That eliminates the Bruins in a 3-way tie because division record is the next step after conference record. With UCLA gone, ASU owns a head-to-head against the Utes, if both teams finish with the same record.
The 3rd criteria is record against next highest placed team in the division, which would be USC.
ASU beat them and Utah didn’t.
Either way Utah needs ASU to finish with a worse record because the Sun Devils own all the tie breakers against the Utes.
If UCLA wins out, they own the head-to-head tie breaker over ASU.
by UteinBrooklyn on Nov 14, 2011 10:01 PM MST up reply actions
ASU only has 1 division loss right now to UCLA
Utes have two. And in case of a tie, ASU owns all of the tie breakers.
by UteinBrooklyn on Nov 14, 2011 10:05 PM MST up reply actions
In other news, Greg Bird still hits like a freight train
And not just on special teams. Here’s his fantastic hit while getting some playing time in the fourth quarter against UCLA.
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
by CrimsonUte on Nov 14, 2011 4:10 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
How many times did that guy lose his helmet?
I think I counted four.
But I give him huge props for holding onto the ball.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
And that's something to make an animated GIF
String together all the times he lost his helmet in under two minutes.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
It was probably due to that skull cap he was wearing to keep his noggin warm...
I remember them throwing a flag on that play…I ran down all 52 rows from where I was sitting, and to the opposite side of the field to choke the official…but he had reversed the call by the time I got there.
i was 5th row right in front of the refs
and i was shitting my pants at them, they were deliberating 20 feet from me, and for about 40 seconds they got a steady dose of this guy.. and then they reversed the call
The worst almost penalty was the one on the sideline...
… Where the ref from the opposite sideline is the one who actually threw the flag.
He needed some duct tape.
It fixes everything!
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
I think that should be a penalty.
When the same player keeps losing his helmet multiple times during the same game, I think at some point it should be a penalty. Either strap it on correctly, have the air pumped into it correctly, or find one that fits. Maybe if it starts hurting the team in the game, maybe the coach will give a crap and actually do something about it. And yes I’m also talking to you Riley Nelson.
But
If he doesn’t lose his helmet, how could the ladies see those flowing locks? (Can’t believe he cut them, sad day for Cougar co-eds everywhere).
by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 15, 2011 9:30 AM MST up reply actions
Block U -Home to the future (far future, but future!) Pac-12 champion Utah Utes and all their classless fans!
That future could be much closer than we think! I believe in miracles!!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
- Urban Meyer
"Wow. Wow. Wow."
- Daryl Johnston after Utah took a 21-0 lead on Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl
Related FanPosts on Block U
Related FanShots on Block U
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
