November 5, 2008

Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

When Jim Boylen became the Utah basketball coach last year, he vowed to get rid of black in the Utes' uniforms and get back to the traditional red and white.

The football team, however, is going the opposite direction, at least for a night, putting black into its uniforms in a big way for Thursday night's "blackout" game against TCU.

According to the Deseret News Utah plans to join the trend of teams exploring the marketing gimmick that is the black uniform.

I have been threatened to be banned if links to Utah's history of black gymnastics uniforms are included in posts (granted no warning of such content was given, just a note of the history of black uniforms.) I am half hoping Utah took this opportunity, complete with gold lettering. I am also clearly on the side of Utah fans that HATE the idea, but I am a Utah man, sir, and will be till I die, KI-YI.

Even without the uniforms this game presents itself as a must see game. Second only to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in the rankings of the teams, this game also has BCS implications. The winner will likely have the inside road to earn a BCS bid as the highest ranked outsider, certainly this is the case for Utah.

I fear that the Utes may be overrated and this may be the game to prove it. Indeed higher ranked Utah is a 2.5 point underdog to visiting TCU. I think this line is justified.

Match up
TCU Rushing Offense: 224 ypg, 4.48 ypa
Utah Rushing Defense: 89.6, 2.74

Utah Rushing Offense: 184 ypg, 4.44 ypa
TCU Rushing Defense: 38.9, 1.42

This is going to be a battle in the trenches, and this is likely to be where the game is won. TCU should be able to run the ball better than Utah this week. TCU was able to stop Oklahoma's run, despite Oklahoma's lopsided win.

TCU Passing Offense: 184.5 ypg, 6.81 ypa, 127.15 rating
Utah Passing Defense: 176.7 ypg, 6.12 ypa, 116.95 rating

Utah Passing Offense: 220.3 ypg, 7.78 ypa, 144.76 rating
TCU Passing Defense: 175.6 ypg, 5.68 ypa, 95.98 rating

While TCU should have the edge in the trenches, Utah should be able to open things up a little more than TCU. The rating data might indicate this is not the case at all, and favors TCU. I would love to see a reverse-pass from Utah's rendition of the Wild Hog formation.

Turnovers:
TCU: +2.60, -1.10
Utah: +1.88, -1.77

Turnovers have been a problem for Utah this year, especially on punt returns. TCU has been excelling at forcing turnovers and scoring on them.

Common Opponents:
8/30 TCU 26 @ New Mexico 3
10/11 TCU 13 @ CSU 7
10/25 Wyoming 7 @ TCU 54
11/1 TCU 44 @ UNLV 14

9/6 UNLV 21 @ Utah 42
10/11 Utah 40 @ Wyoming 7
10/18 CSU 16 @ Utah 49
11/1 Utah 13 @ New Mexico 10

TCU's close game to CSU was the Saturday before a Thursday night game against BYU. Utah's close game against New Mexico was last week, in anticipation for this weeks game.

This is the highest ranked meeting of two MWC teams in its ten year history. If you are looking for high octane offense, wait until Saturday's Oklahoma State, Texas Tech game. This game will be hard nose football, fought at the line. High speed and solid lines define both defenses.

Prediction:
TCU 17
Utah 14
And an end to Utah's black uniforms forever.

I hope I am wrong about the score.

Comments:

Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

When Jim Boylen became the Utah basketball coach last year, he vowed to get rid of black in the Utes' uniforms and get back to the traditional red and white. The football team, however, is going the opposite direction, at least for a night, putting black into its uniforms in a big way for Thursday night's "blackout" game against TCU.

According to the Deseret News Utah plans to join the trend of teams exploring the marketing gimmick that is the black uniform. I have been threatened to be banned if links to Utah's history of black gymnastics uniforms are included in posts (granted no warning of such content was given, just a note of the history of black uniforms.) I am half hoping Utah took this opportunity, complete with gold lettering. I am also clearly on the side of Utah fans that HATE the idea, but I am a Utah man, sir, and will be till I die, KI-YI. Even without the uniforms this game presents itself as a must see game. Second only to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in the rankings of the teams, this game also has BCS implications. The winner will likely have the inside road to earn a BCS bid as the highest ranked outsider, certainly this is the case for Utah. I fear that the Utes may be overrated and this may be the game to prove it. Indeed higher ranked Utah is a 2.5 point underdog to visiting TCU. I think this line is justified. Match up TCU Rushing Offense: 224 ypg, 4.48 ypa Utah Rushing Defense: 89.6, 2.74 Utah Rushing Offense: 184 ypg, 4.44 ypa TCU Rushing Defense: 38.9, 1.42 This is going to be a battle in the trenches, and this is likely to be where the game is won. TCU should be able to run the ball better than Utah this week. TCU was able to stop Oklahoma's run, despite Oklahoma's lopsided win. TCU Passing Offense: 184.5 ypg, 6.81 ypa, 127.15 rating Utah Passing Defense: 176.7 ypg, 6.12 ypa, 116.95 rating Utah Passing Offense: 220.3 ypg, 7.78 ypa, 144.76 rating TCU Passing Defense: 175.6 ypg, 5.68 ypa, 95.98 rating While TCU should have the edge in the trenches, Utah should be able to open things up a little more than TCU. The rating data might indicate this is not the case at all, and favors TCU. I would love to see a reverse-pass from Utah's rendition of the Wild Hog formation. Turnovers: TCU: +2.60, -1.10 Utah: +1.88, -1.77 Turnovers have been a problem for Utah this year, especially on punt returns. TCU has been excelling at forcing turnovers and scoring on them. Common Opponents: 8/30 TCU 26 @ New Mexico 3 10/11 TCU 13 @ CSU 7 10/25 Wyoming 7 @ TCU 54 11/1 TCU 44 @ UNLV 14 9/6 UNLV 21 @ Utah 42 10/11 Utah 40 @ Wyoming 7 10/18 CSU 16 @ Utah 49 11/1 Utah 13 @ New Mexico 10 TCU's close game to CSU was the Saturday before a Thursday night game against BYU. Utah's close game against New Mexico was last week, in anticipation for this weeks game. This is the highest ranked meeting of two MWC teams in its ten year history. If you are looking for high octane offense, wait until Saturday's Oklahoma State, Texas Tech game. This game will be hard nose football, fought at the line. High speed and solid lines define both defenses. Prediction: TCU 17 Utah 14 And an end to Utah's black uniforms forever. I hope I am wrong about the score.