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Utah Utes expect real test from Beavers' freshman RB

I was surprised that there was no mention in the paper today of how the Utes are in the top 5 for 3 of the 4 recently released computer rankings.
Colley #3
Massey #4
Sagarin #2

I always liked that Sagarin ranking!

Boise State also made 2 of the lists (Massey #5 and Sagarin#3)

Be sure and bring your "A" game Utah, these guys are flying high and won't fear you. You need to set the tone right from the start of the game. Go get 'em!

Go Oregan

Utah was successful stopping the Falcon's running game by jamming 9 or 10 in the box and forcing Air Force to pass. The strategy worked because Air Force is such a lousy passing team.

Will the same strategy work against the Beavers, or will Oregon State make Utah pay for selling out to stop the run? Oregon State's coaches have seen the tapes of the Air Force game, so they'll come prepared.

This will be the acid test for Utah's defense, stopping the run and the pass. Utah's offense needs to help out the defense by not giving the Beavers easy scoring opportunities.

It's time for the Utes to produce a complete game. Anything less and their undefeated season and Top 25 ranking will end this week.

Good luck Utes!

You should probably point out that Utah is #2 in the ELO Chess portion of the Sagarin rankings. That's important, because the BCS uses ELO Chess. (ELO Chess method only considers wins and losses--not point spread). But they are really rated 10th in the Sagarin ratings, which is a synthesis of ELO Chess and Pure Points (ONLY the point spread matters)--which ain't too bad. (I think the Y is 8th). This is a great ranking system and beats the heck out of any writers or coaching poll.

lets see, isn't it oregOn
and doesn't that state have a record for the most ugly uniforms by two college teams
the ducks and the hideous green and yellow, and the beavers who look like halloween
hope the utes carve the pumpkin early this year.

I don't know where everyone is getting their Sagarin rankings. According to the Sagarin rankings at the official website BYU is #8 and Utah is #10.

The reason there is no mention in the paper of these rankings is becuase they are absolutely meaningless this early in the season.

OSU held them to 313 total yards, forced 2 turnovers, allowed only 2 3rd down conversions, and had 10 more minutes of game time.

OSU is no cake walk. Halloween may still not come until the 31st.

Good luck, Utes.

I think you guys will torch this team and beat them soundly.

My prediction is that you beat them by about three touchdowns.

Utah 31
Oregon St 10

Go Utes (until you meet the Cougars)!

Irresistible force meets the immovable object. Somethings got to give. If Utah loses this game, then it is almost certain that BYU will win the conference!

I've always been a Beavers' fan. When I was young my dad used to set my brother and me on his knees and sing us the Oregon State fight song.

Prediction:
OSU 24, Utah 19

Go Beavers!!

Yeah you guys are right up there with Northwestern, Duke and Vandy in these ratings. Looks like someone need to reboot.

The best way to contain osu runnin back rogers is to keep him off the field...I believe the utes needs not to concern themselves with osu, but its own offensive woes...the utes utes will be victorious when they control the ball...on defense..they just need to keep doin what they`re doin..so much talent but such poor coaching...utah`s athletic director needs to find the next urban meyer...utah`s football program is nationally recognized year in and year out...so to keep the program where it belongs...we need to make changes...change for the better..I think ute fans deserve it!!!

Oh man, I can't wait for kickoff. This is going to be a great game on national television. I have a feeling the Utes are going to show everybody how good they are by putting together a complete game this week. I am going to predict Quizz will end up with his 100 yard average. The OSU qb will have less than 100 yards passing, get sacked 3 times, and have two interceptions.

GO UTES!!!

Oregan State is my favorite team this week, need I say more.

The USC / OSU game was a fluke. Take a look at the other games OSU has played this year and you will get the point. If USC plays OSU again they win by 21 at least. OSU was at home and got some early breaks and was able to pull out the win. The U should win by at least 14 against OSU.

I have always liked the Beavers. But this time I have to say go UTES. Utah by 21!

Until the teams are connected and the preseason rankings eliminated, the Sagarin ratings are meaningless.

Even then, the ratings will change week to week. Win/loss record and SOS of schedule are both used in the calculation.

The SOS will change every time a former opponent wins or loses a game.

A 1-3 team today, COULD be 9-3 at the end of the regular season. A 3-1 team today, COULD be 3-9 at the end of the regular season.

Projecting a team's end of season SOS is just as much guess work as projecting a team's end of season record.

In the end, the only thing any team has control over is beating the teams on their schedule.

As it stands today, if both BYU and Utah are undefeated on November 22nd, the winner will be guaranteed the non-BCS automatic BCS bowl bid, with an outside chance to be playing in the NC game (sorry Boise State, you'll just have to hope for an unprecendented at-large bid).

SOS will only be a factor in determining 1st or 2nd in the BCS poll and the NC game qualifiers. It won't affect which non-BCS team gets the automatic bid to a BCS Bowl.

Why are Utah fans fixated on meaningless computer rankings when they have the team that just demolished the #1-ranked Trojans coming to town today?

Computer rankings won't help the Utes beat the Beavers.

Focus Utah.

This is why Whittingham has failed to win a conference championship the past three years; losing games the Utes should have won if they'd been more focused.