Deseret News | Utah Utes expect real test from Beavers' freshman RB

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Utah Utes expect real test from Beavers' freshman RB

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A Ute fan in Bulldog country | 4:05 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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)

rvalens2 | 4:50 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!

Anonymous | 6:15 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Go Oregan

Comments continue below

Will the Quizz pass the Utes | 7:00 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!

Bob 2 | 7:11 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

sob | 7:32 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

Sagarin rankings | 7:49 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

vs. USC | 8:12 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

BYU Fan | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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

Cougar Fan | 8:39 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Go Utes (until you meet the Cougars)!

Boom! | 8:52 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!

Always Been | 9:07 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!!

Computer glitch | 9:12 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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

utes need to contain themselves | 9:21 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!!!

Utah Mann | 9:21 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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!!!

Dave | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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

U should kill OSU with ease | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

Go Utes | 9:24 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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

Sagarin | 9:27 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

Fixated | 9:37 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

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.

Re: Boom!/Re: Always | 9:43 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Boom! Hate to break it to you, but this game doesn't count in the conference standings. And Dear Always, that was a touching story. Please contact Dick Harmon and he'll write a full article on it.

Good for Utah | 9:47 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Utah's high SOS rating, if it remains throughout the season, is good news for BYU. The SOS not only includes opponents, but, opponents opponents; which means, Utah's high SOS will improve BYU's SOS.

SOS won't make any difference in the head-to-head comparison of BYU and Utah, since their November 22nd matchup (if they're both undefeated) will be THE DECIDING FACTOR in deciding BCS bowl bids, but it could play a role in determining whether BYU or Utah qualifies for the NC game.

Beaver Believer | 9:47 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

All the talk is that Beavers are a rush only team. Before the USC game, we were averaging over 300 yds passing a game (1st in Pac-10). So if you take the running game away, we are not Air Force and won't be afraid to pass. I think Utah has a great team and I don't think it will be a cake walk for any team...

my prediction...

Beavers 31 - Utah 27

Bill from South Dakota | 9:58 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I cheer for Utah all but one game per year. Utah has the best secondary in the MWC and one of the top rushing defenses in the nation. I would love to see Utah put the big hurt on the Beavers. GO UTAH!

Anonymous | 9:57 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Utes I hope you win this game by a decent margin. That way when BYU beats an undefeated Utah team at the end of the season it will look a lot better for us. That's all for now.

Anonymous | 10:04 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

some people on these boards need to realize that the trash talkers on these boards have absolutely no affilitation with either team....

Coug in Mass | 10:08 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Oregon State can play. I think that Penn State proved that they can't travel. USC was too slow afoot to catch the OSU jitterbug running back. Obviously, Penn State wasn't.

SO what does all of this have to do with the yewts? Nothing. That's why they play the game. OSU has to travel to Utah. The altitude seems to bother the west coast teams. Utah has acquired a habit of losing to teams to whom they should not lose, but I doubt that the yewts are overlooking this one. Besides, it's payback time for last year. That can be a powerful motivation.

My guess is that the yewts will notch another win. At the same time, I suspect that RES will be nervous place until it's over. It will be close.

Re: Computer Glitch | 10:11 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I'm not sure if you've watched any football this year but Vandy, Duke, and Northwestern are yet to lose! That's good company, we'll take it.

CONDITIONAL BEST WISHES | 10:17 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

The Utes have a good solid team and a coaching staff capable of scheming their way past the Beavers. Should be a fun game that will bring more glory to the big red machine. Good! I wish you the best in all your games. . . except one.

Hoping for a close game | 10:18 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I think we have a great team this year and before last thursday, I thought we would pounce on the beavers, but after watching that usc/ohio state game and then the usc/oregon state game, I was amazed at how osu dominated both sides of the ball. A turnover late in the game helped seal the victory, but turnovers didnt kill usc last week. It was incredible play by the o-line and d-line. I think we have a tough game ahead of us and I dont think we will roll over them, I just want to keep it close.

geezer | 10:20 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Good luck Utes against Oregon State. I'm looking forward to watching the game, and I think the Utes will win cause they always play well in big games. UNLV and Wyoming sure disappointed me Saturday. I'm one of the dreamers hoping my Cougs and your Utes meet undefeated in Nov. Lots of football still to be played before that can pan out.

Re: Fixated | 10:22 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

What would you have fans fixate on? Fan aren't on the team. Fans have nothing to do but talk about meaningless things. How focused fans on this comment board are will not affect how the Utes play Thursday night.

There is such a thing as too much focus from fans, and announcers come to think of it. I hear some team's fans/announcers say "we should have......" or "why didn't we......". I always laugh at people like that and ask what position they play.

Re: Hoping | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

"turnovers didn't kill USC last week". that's what you said, but the first half of that sentence said, "A turnover late in the game helped seal the victory". So which is it? USC may have played poorly, there may have been a battle in the trenches, but it seems to me that a turnover did kill the Trojans. A late one. Looked an awful lot like the one that did them in against UCLA a few years ago. All you need is one turnover either way to help seal a victory, thus "killing" the other team.

You must be a Ute fan.

please people | 11:07 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

USC has more team speed than Penn st! And corvallis is a very hard place to play.

finally | 11:10 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Now the yoots will finally get a half-way decent test. So far they haven't played any tough teams and their high ranking is suspect. Hey yoot fans you know that win over UNLV that you were counting as a "big win" because they somehow were able beat ASU after they played u guys? Looks like that all got shot down in a hurry with their loss to "perennial powerhouse" Nevada! What a joke!

SC game good wake up call | 11:19 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

The OSU vs. SC game surprised me... why? The Trojans thought they could just show up and win (while their fans didn't even do that). SC has not played great in Corvalis over the years... yet no sense of urgency, no drive... nothin'. And the Beavers ran all over them. I certainly took notice and I'm sure the Utes did too.

One could argue that after such a big win there's the chance of a letdown for OSU, but the Utes can't fall into that trap. If Utah can come out hitting hard and really set the tempo (like they did in the 2nd half of the UNLV game) I think they have an excellent chance of winning this game.

If they spend a half trying to "find themselves" again on offense, could be a game of trying not to lose instead of going out to win.

Here's hoping the real Utes show up a for a full 4 quarters.

Go UTES!

Warning | 11:35 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

A warning... OSU has historically started slowly, and have failed miserably in one early season road game. Two years ago it was Boise State, last year it was Cincinnati. The loss to Penn State was that game this year.

The Utes had better be ready for a balanced, focused team come Thursday.

stop it... finally | 11:46 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

The joke is on you for falling for the same fallacy that Utah fans use to discredit BYU's high ranking.

A weak schedule does not PROVE that a team isn't any good; it only suggests that a team hasn't been tested.

As we saw with OSU beating USC, Ole' Miss beating Florida, UNLV beating Arizona State, even the "untested" theory is suspect, since, on any given Saturday, ALMOST any team can beat ALMOST any other team.

That's why the knee-jerk reaction that a good team can't be any good because they ALMOST lost to a bad team is so misguided.

Sometimes, the true test of a good team isn't in blowingout every opponent, sometimes the true test comes in surviving a close win.

Aerial View | 11:46 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Utah's new defensive weapon for the Oregon State game....

Ground control to Major Tom.....over...........
Ground control to Major Tom...over
Go ahead control... Major Tom here....over
Have you got a fix on Rogers? .....our linebackers have lost site of him....over
Control he's tight... WR just off left tackle.... now he's got the ball.... now he's at shoe top level just btween guard and left tackle...over ......
Major Tom.....Ground control say again....over.......
Major Tom... this ground control.. I say again..repeat your last transmission....... over!!!

Ground Control....this is Major Tom....be advised that I have retuned to base to change the sponsoring banner's sir.....over...........

Roger,.. Major Tom......I'll let Whitingham know.....We'll have to go to plan B..and put the grocery isle mirrors along the sidelines to keep track of the little runt....er I mean guy...
control out....

Re: Finally | 11:50 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Let's see, Utah beat a Michigan team that just beat the number 9 team in the country. They beat a UNLV team that beat two BCS teams in a row, including one (ASU) ranked somewhere around #15 at the time.

So who has BYU played? Talk about suspect rankings.

Random Thoughts | 11:57 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

It looks to me like the Utah football team had thier off week with Weber St last weekend. They got the W but did not play great. Not playing great was the montra all over the country for ranked teams and look how many lost. It looks like Utah was looking past Weber and looking forward to this week. Having OSU take down USC helped keep Utah awake some but one only needs to look at last year, Utah at OSU, for motivation. If Utah is not ready for some pay back then they dont deserve a top 25 and soon top 10 ranking.

Utah will be ready for some payback!
Utes 35 Rodents 17

Go UTES!

Re: Finally | 12:06 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Obviously you are narrow sighted and Narrow Minded and only follow one team...What team might that be?

Very blatant attempt to infuse a little piece of the big picture. Not even a half-decent try though.

Go back to watching your one team and finding "out of context" and false made-up facts and let the real sports lovers blog here.

re: finally | 12:09 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Are you seriously questioning the Utah schedule? If the Utah ranking is "suspect" then how would you classify the byu ranking?

Utah has defeated:
Michigan (2-2) who just knocked off #9 Wisconsin
Air Force (3-1)
UNLV (3-2)
USU (1-3)
Weber State (3-2)

opponents are a combined 12-9

byu has defeated:
Northern Iowa (2-2) who just lost to S. Illinois
Washington (0-4)
UCLA (1-3)
Wyoming (2-3)

opponents are a combined 5-12

Neither team has played a tough schedule. The Utes will get a good test tomorrow night with OSU coming to town. When will byu finally get a test?

Open your eyes and think before you post a comment that will make you look foolish.

GoBeavs!! | 12:13 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

OSU has the second best record overall in the PAC10 over at least the last four years with 9 wins last year and 10 wins in 2006. Take away the slow starts in September and they are the number one team, over USC. September is over kiddos. The fluke was Penn State.

What real test has Utah had? Zip, zero, nuttin'. Enjoy your last week in the Top 25. Once the Beavers roll over them they will be exposed as highly overrated. My prediction: Beavers by 10!

re: Re: Finally | 12:37 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

see "stop it"

You proved my point.

UNLV just got blown out (27-49) by a 1-2 Nevada team whose only previous win was against Grambling State.

Nevada was destroyed by Missouri (17-69) a couple of weeks ago.

The toughest team Utah has played so far is Air Force. THAT was a quality win, but the Utes didn't exactly dominate the game.

BYU and Utah are both very good teams, but, so far, BYU has looked more impressive.

Utah gets their chance tomorrow night against an OSU team that I'm still not convinced is that good, despite their domination of previously #1-ranked USC.

OSU losses at Stanford (28-36), not a very good team, and at Penn State (14-45), with a lone win at home against a terrible Hawaii team (45-7), don't exactly validate the win over USC as being anything more than a fluke.

But, the USC win does focus the eyes of the college football world on the Utah game to see just how good the Beavers are.

RE: Dave | 12:41 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I think the folks at OregON State will be excited to know they have a fan this week...until they see how you spelled it. Ha ha ha. Must be that BYU education.

Northern Iowa | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

S. Illinois defeats N. Iowa 27-24

AP, Sep 27, 2008

Kyle Dougherty kicked a 40-yard field goal as the clock ran down for the fourth period to break a 24-24 tie and lead Southern Illinois to a 27-24 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday. Dougherty also had another field goal for Southern Illinois (2-1). The Salukis started the game with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown run from running back Larry Warner.

Northern Iowa is currently ranked 10th in the FCS Coaches Poll (I-AA), down from 5th

Southern Illinois is currently ranked 11th, up from 13th

The jury is still out on whether BYU or Utah will finish the season with the tougher SOS. That may not be decided until November 22nd when Utah's SOS inches past BYU's SOS, because they played the higher ranked Cougars.

BYU's SOS took a hit last week when Locker was side-lined for 6 weeks with a broken hand. With Locker, the Huskies had a chance of winning several games in the PAC-10; without Locker, they'll be lucky to beat Washington State.

SOS can be just as arbitrary as the human polls.

We need a playoff!!!

BYU Mom | 1:39 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Go BEAV'S from a Beaver Believer. SOB- Halloween won't come early this year!!! It's always been Oct 31st.... Utes watch your back.

OSBeavers | 1:46 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

"don't exactly validate the win over USC as being anything more than a fluke"

Did you even watch the Oregon State vs USC game Utah fan? (I don't think so!)

Oregon State's offensive and defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game. USC was 2 of 12 on 3rd down conversions, I don't think you can call that a fluke.

Mike Riley is a Top 10 coach in the nation and will be well prepared for the Utah offense and defense.

OSBeavers

U of U fans | 1:46 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

for those of you who havent heard yet there will be a BLACK out on thursday nov. 6 against tcu. everyone wear black and cheer on our utes in their niw black unis. as for this game

UTAH: 45
Oregon State: 24

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Don Ryan, Associated Press

Utah's run defense has been stifling this season and against strong competition. The Utes will face another tough challenge in Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers, above.

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