Just like in the fall, the University of Utah is the hottest local sports story thanks to the Andrew Bogut-led basketball team that is ranked 13th in the country with an 18-game winning streak...

Now that the basketball team has exceeded the football team's winning streak, you have to wonder, when will Utah lose a game in one of the two major sports? Well, it could happen tonight at New Mexico where the Utes' 18-game streak in 1997-98 came to a halt and its 1990-91 17-game streak was ended. Otherwise it may not come until next season after the Utes win their final two home games, the Mountain West Conference Tournament and the NCAA Tournament (just kidding)...

The U. football team's 16-game winning streak won't end for at least another six months. Can you remember the last team to beat the Utes in football? Yup, it was New Mexico in October of 2003...

Of course no sports team ever likes to lose, but it could be helpful in the long run for the Utes to lose a game before the NCAA tournament. Back in 1998-99 when the Utes ran off a school-record 23 games, before they were blindsided by the 10th-seeded Miami of Ohio team that knocked them off in the NCAA Tournament...

If they don't lose tonight or in their final two home games against BYU and San Diego State, a loss at the MWC Tournament could also help the Utes if it comes before the finals. They've already locked up an NCAA berth and an early exit would give their players some extra rest before the NCAA Tournament. That's the formula the 1998 team used when it lost a first-round game to UNLV and won five straight games before losing in the finals to Kentucky...

The Utes will likely play the late game in the first round of the MWC Tournament. That will give them a chance to play three straight nights on ESPN...

After going to places like Milwaukee, Cleveland and New Orleans in recent years, look for the Utes to stay out west in either Boise or Tucson for this year's NCAA Tournament. Usually the NCAA selection committee rewards top teams by letting them stay in their areas and the fact that a certain Utah athletic director is on the selection committee won't hurt...

It also may help the Utes to not end up in the same bracket as Kentucky for a change...

The Utes shouldn't mind going back to Tucson since they played there earlier this season and played well, giving Arizona all it could handle down to the final 10 seconds...

Checking out at the national sports world...