August 30, 2008

Utah's Win: The Big Picture

Utah was able to dominate the line of a BCS power on both sides of the ball. This is no Hawaii. Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation. Utah can score 25 points on anyone. To argue they deserve to be a premier team they need to show they can stop a powerful offense. A 2 point win over an unranked team is not that impressive. Utah should be #20 in this week’s polls. #15 would be a generous but reasonable ballot. Are they worse than BYU?

Michigan will likely win next week against Miami (OH). I like them against Notre Dame, but I don’t like Notre Dame. Wisconsin will be too much for them early. I really think the pieces fall in place against Illinois. Maybe they lose this game but it will be apparent this is a new team. It will be like Utah in 2003. Then they roll through until Ohio State. This game could easily still be for a share of the Big 10 championship. 8-4 is not unlikely for Michigan.

If Michigan does not gel by the Illinois game it will be a long year for Rodriquez. Even if Michigan does well in the Big 10 what will this do for Utah?

Not much more than the bounce they get this week. We have seen this before in 2004. Texas A&M began to perform well later in the season but every one said this is not the same Texas A&M Utah played at the start of the season. They were right and the reasoning will be just as valid this year.

Utah has made its mark on this season. Utah and its fans need to remember that they have been here before. The season is still ahead of us, and Utah is half a game behind TCU for the MWC title. What Utah does from here on out will have more impact on their post season than one win over an historic program in a down phase.

In the end the Michigan win is a great day in the history of Utah football and gives Utah more credibility during recruiting. This, more than rankings this year, is the true value of the win today.

Comments:

Utah's Win: The Big Picture
Utah was able to dominate the line of a BCS power on both sides of the ball. This is no Hawaii. Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation. Utah can score 25 points on anyone. To argue they deserve to be a premier team they need to show they can stop a powerful offense. A 2 point win over an unranked team is not that impressive. Utah should be #20 in this week’s polls. #15 would be a generous but reasonable ballot. Are they worse than BYU? Michigan will likely win next week against Miami (OH). I like them against Notre Dame, but I don’t like Notre Dame. Wisconsin will be too much for them early. I really think the pieces fall in place against Illinois. Maybe they lose this game but it will be apparent this is a new team. It will be like Utah in 2003. Then they roll through until Ohio State. This game could easily still be for a share of the Big 10 championship. 8-4 is not unlikely for Michigan. If Michigan does not gel by the Illinois game it will be a long year for Rodriquez. Even if Michigan does well in the Big 10 what will this do for Utah? Not much more than the bounce they get this week. We have seen this before in 2004. Texas A&M began to perform well later in the season but every one said this is not the same Texas A&M Utah played at the start of the season. They were right and the reasoning will be just as valid this year. Utah has made its mark on this season. Utah and its fans need to remember that they have been here before. The season is still ahead of us, and Utah is half a game behind TCU for the MWC title. What Utah does from here on out will have more impact on their post season than one win over an historic program in a down phase. In the end the Michigan win is a great day in the history of Utah football and gives Utah more credibility during recruiting. This, more than rankings this year, is the true value of the win today.