Utes look to run their record to 2-3 tonight

Utah will face instate rival Weber State up at the Huntsman Center tonight, a game that pits former Utah assistant Randy Rahe against Utah head coach Ray Giacoletti. Last year the Utes won a thriller in overtime, a game that signaled the possible struggles of Utah's 2005-2006 season.

Weber State enters the game with a 4-2 record, however that's fairly deceptive as they only have one win against a D1-A opponent. Utah though hasn't faired much better, coming into this game with a 1-3 record and only one victory over a D1-A opponent, that came last Saturday against Rice.

I'm guessing this will most likely be a very close contest and wouldn't be surprised if Weber State pulled out a victory. Utah has played ugly ball and one solid half against an average Rice team does nothing to build my confidence in this team. I guess I'm still bitter over the loss to Colorado a couple of weeks ago. That game was brutal and I'm not so sure the Utes are capable of putting together a solid string of games.

If Utah does in fact go down tonight at home, I think it'll be the beginning of the end for Ray Giacoletti. Losing to SUU was bad, but losing to both Weber and SUU at home in the same season is much worse. Especially if Utah starts the season 1-4, a definite problem for a team that was picked to finish 4th in the Mountain West this season.

I'm not going to say this is an epic game, but if the Utes lose, I think their season is done. A blowout victory still won't be enough to wash away the taste left by the losses to Southern Utah, Santa Clara and Colorado, but it will be a step in the right direction.