Sports Illustrated predicts Utah & Oregon in the Pac-12 title game

by JazzyUte on Aug 19, 2011 3:14 PM MDT in Football

Sports Illustrated has Utah and SC tying for the Pac-12 South in their conference preview. However, with the Trojans under NCAA sanctions, in this scenario, it would be the Utes playing in the first Pac-12 title game against the Oregon Ducks, who they peg as the North champions.

They expect the Utes to go 9-3 on the season and 7-2 in conference play, meaning they're projecting a loss at either BYU or Pittsburgh (highly unlikely they see a loss in the season-opener against Montana State).

The magazine also lists the Utah-SC game as one of three key conference games this season. It is, of course, the first ever Pac-12 game, even though Colorado and Cal technically play each other earlier in the day in what has been deemed an out of conference game for both schools.

Here's to SI being right!

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I would take that outcome this year

In a heartbeat. Go Utes!

Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."

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by CrimsonUte on Aug 19, 2011 4:43 PM MDT reply actions

I tossed phil steele's magazine in the garbage and ordered a new subscription to sports illustrated.

Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 20, 2011 4:06 AM MDT up reply actions

the injuries at ASU have everyone thinking twice about the South...

… and I think the Wildcats are a big unknown.

Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon

by Gekko Mojo on Aug 20, 2011 10:29 AM MDT reply actions

Agreed...

ASU doesn’t look near the dominant team they did prior to fall camp. It seems they’ve been snake bitten A LOT the last few years.

Arizona could battle, but I’m just not convinced Mike Stoops can win enough games to win the division.

by JazzyUte on Aug 20, 2011 4:02 PM MDT up reply actions

ASU was already a giant question mark.

Prior to their rash of injuries, it was their discipline problems that were most likely to drag them down. Now they are even more of an enigma. Are they done for or are they a “wounded animal,” still every bit as dangerous but even more unpredictable?

Ducks GOOOOD. Fuskies BAAAAAD.

by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Aug 21, 2011 2:36 PM MDT up reply actions

The Arizonas

Have never impressed me… they always have good to excellent talent, but it doesn’t show up in games. I suspect that inferior coaching is the real snake biting those two teams.

by Joseph Silverzweig on Aug 22, 2011 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions

So True, Mike Stoops Is Living Off Of His Brothers Successes And The Only Luck Erickson Has, is BAD Luck

by alfa1 on Aug 22, 2011 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions

Most Likely OOC Loss is TDS...

And even that I don’t think will happen. It’ll likely be a close match, as many rivalry games are, but I’m fairly confident Utah will pull it out.

I keep seeing/reading contradicting reports about the offense, and that has me a little apprehensive. But I’m confident the defense will stay strong through the season and that will pull them through.

The USC, OSU, and Cal games are the only ones I’m worried about, roughly in that order.

If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!

by RedJaron on Aug 22, 2011 3:24 PM MDT reply actions

Disagree...

I think the most likely loss is to Pitt.

Travelling the entire length of America for an October showdown against a good Pitt team is not going to be easy. BYU and Utah always play tough, but I think the Utes will be in that game until the very end. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got soundly beat by the Panthers, though (not awful, but 10-14 points).

Who knows, though. I could be wrong. Maybe it is BYU. I just think Pitt sets up for a difficult scenario.

by JazzyUte on Aug 22, 2011 6:27 PM MDT up reply actions

I dont understand the Pitt hype

Sure, I think they will be good but Tino Sunseri is mediocre. They lost Baldwin, Romeus, Lewis and several others. Not sure why they are being so hyped up?

Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....

by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 23, 2011 8:56 AM MDT up reply actions

It's not necessarily Hype

But the circumstances around the game make me agree with Jazzy that Pitt is the more probably OOC loss.

by UnHoly Ram on Aug 23, 2011 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions

makes sense.

Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....

by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 23, 2011 11:33 AM MDT up reply actions

Utah got lucky with their schedule this year

BTW, Welcome to the great Conference of Champions Utah! But you got major lucky in your schedule this year. To not play Standford and Oregon is amazing, the two best teams by far. And with ASU having tons of injuries, you stand a good chance to win the South this year. And if you make it to the Champ game you do know it will be in Eugene don’t you? You do know we are the hardest environment to play at home right? Good luck on your season though Utes. And welcome to the great epic Conference that even started the CFB tradition of bowl games after a regular season. Pac-12, here you go.

Gang Green Yell-O

by DucksflyinPAC on Aug 23, 2011 6:25 AM MDT reply actions