Deseret News | Rivalry week: Utes go BCS busting with a win; BYU most likely Vegas bound

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Rivalry week: Utes go BCS busting with a win; BYU most likely Vegas bound

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late loss | 9:11 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

A late loss almost always drops the loser a long ways. I suspect that Utah will drop a lot if they lose.

RE: Vegas Ute | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

There's a first time for everything... Anything can happen, that is why it is so heated here. This is the best match-up ever if you believe the billing. Let's just hope it is a close and clean game with sportsmanlike winners and losers!

Disco Vega | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

UTAH ranked 7? There is a God! Go Utes!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

To:"Hmmm... | 8:39 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008
If BYU wins on Saturday and doesn't luck out with a BCS bowl game, they will go to the Las Vegas Bowl"

If there is a tie, Vegas gets to choose who to invite.

They will invite the best team.

BYU.

High 5 | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Utah will take BYU lightly.

BYU will come in with a chip on their shoulder.

Utah will play hard, but uptight.

BYU will play hard, but loose.

Utah's offense will resort to trick plays that won't fool anybody.

BYU will find holes in Utah's pass coverage.

Utah will give up two more turnovers than BYU.

BYU by 10.

sellout? | 9:18 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

At least Utah will sell out this game. They can't usually do that even when they have a good team. Pathetic Ute fans! You can write here, but how about getting 45,000 to go to a home game against Wyoming, Air Force, New Mexico, San Diego State? Why would the Pac-10 want a team that can't sell 45,000 tickets with a very small tv market? Good luck to both teams and the 18 fans who watch it on THE MTN!!!!!

Anonymous | 9:19 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

re:Vegas Ute | 8:52 a.m.
"Utah will pass to the outside to take advantage of the BYU secondary lack of speed.
The game plan is simple."

So will you be calling in plays from home?

good article | 9:33 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

very unbiased article, very informative on the whole bowl scenario.

Manti coug is an odd fellow.

Impartial Obsever | 9:35 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

No ties to either school, but a big football fan, having watched all of the Ute and Cougar games this year. Intellectually, I see the Cougars winning, when their offense is clicking it's very hard to stop. However, my gut tells me the Utes will somehow pull it out, just like they did against TCU (missed field goals).

Utah 28 - BYU 21

RE: High 5 | 9:35 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

"High 5"? More correctly should just be "High"?

Kevin in the terrace | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

So the pac 10, who went 5-1 against the MWC including a loss by thier champion to a MWC team, would get two teams in the BCS while the MWC could get shut out altogether with a BYU win?????!!!!! Thats rediculous and I hope that it would create a loud protest.

re:Impartial Obsever | 9:35 a.m. | 9:50 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Very nice read on the game.

Could really go either way.

Dog | 9:57 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Pray if the Utes win they go to the Orange Bowl. Facing the "loser" of the SEC championship game would mean a 40 point loss for Utah in the Sugar Bowl

confused | 10:04 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

if BYU loses, how on earth will they make the Vegas bowl? contractually Vegas will have to take a one conference loss TCU team before a two conference loss BYU team. true that's assuming TCU will beat Air Force, but from their games against BYU and Utah i highly doubt TCU will lose that game. Either way, the loser of the rivaly game will likely end up in san diego. Utah win = BCS, BYU win (most likely) = Vegas.

and to the "boiseguy" who commented about a post about Ute anger towards BSU didn't read the previous comment very well as it was a BYU fan dissing BSU not a Ute fan. just wanted to point that out.

spike | 10:05 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

lost in this banter is the possibility of a Utah v Florida matchup if Utah wins out and Florida loses to Bama. I am a cougar fan, but would love to see that game.

Premature conjecture | 10:07 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

There is too much premature conjecture on the possibility of who goes to a BCS bowl. A BYU win may indeed get them into a BCS bowl. At any rate, the game in and of itself is a bowl game for these two teams and where they go afterwards is, well, an afterthought. For me it would please me to no end to carve ute fans hearts out with another gut wrenching loss for them and dash their "bowl hopes".

So | 10:10 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Utah over BYU = Sugar Bowl
Loser of SEC championship = Sugar Bowl

Maybe it would be good for the Utes to lose this one?

Ute Nazi | 10:10 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Sorry Utah, no BCS bowl (of soup) for you. Apologies to Seinfeld.

All of us Boise fans thank BYU in advance for their stunning upset of the mighty Utes.

We will see both of you several times over the next few seasons.

re:Dog | 10:12 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

"Pray if the Utes win they go to the Orange Bowl."

Wow, imagine the outcry if a Cougar fan asked others to pray.

I hope you Ute fans aren't beginning to think that God cares about a football game.

That would undermine everythin Utah hates about BYU, Austin collie, self-righteous fans.

How dare anyone invoke prayer.

Dougie Robinson will writ a column attacking you like he did Qustin Collie last year.

Clean up you act there, Utes.

Trick Plays? | 10:16 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Why does everyone keep getting mad at BSU for winning with trick plays. You love when movies do them, but hate them in real life? Also didn't Utah use the Hook and Ladder in the Fiesta bowl against Pitt, and again this year to score against TCU (maybe it was Air Force). What about the wild hog formation of the Dolphins to beat New England. Boise St put up like 50 points on Oklahoma in that BCS game. Oklahoma was lucky to send that game into OT. If it wasn't for the terrible pass for a pick six at the end. Enough with the trick play mumbo jumbo. Boise could have played with any team that year, period.

Love trick plays | 10:23 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I love trick plays. I love the close game won in the last second. Makes you feel alive and gives entertainment at the highest level in regards to NCAA football. Would love to see a playoff system...want to see a cinderella story come out and excite the populous and fans.

As for all your predictions and scores lsited: Please let me know when my 401 K is going to come back.

GO UTES!

hey | 10:24 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

beck scrambles.... scrambling.... he throws touchdown harline!!!! oh and... 4th and 19.... utahs corner.. oh wait.. gotta cover the receiver.. collie open... four plays later.. TD HARVEY. THATS WHATS UP

Fletch F. Fletch | 10:39 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

re: hey

Are you still wearing your Harline's still open t-shirt? You probably haven't taken it off since Christmas. Our D this year will shut down byu and utah will win by 17: 34-17. You'll probably be on suicide watch after Utah heads for their 2nd BCS bowl.

trick plays | 10:39 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Are just that. Plays.

Nothing wrong with a play.

Didn't Utah mess around a few years back with a funky formation that had 3 linemen and the rest recievers.

Hasn't Utah done well with the fake punts?

Anonymous | 10:43 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If the BCS picks two teams from the mountain west it should be Utah and TCU because those are two teams that can compete best against non-BCS teams.

Anonymous | 10:45 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Fletch F. Fletch and hey.

I think you both sum up the BYU and Ute fans.

Ute fans tell you what they are going to do.
BYU fans tell you what they have done.

It don't count, unless you have done it.

Anonymous | 10:52 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

"If the BCS picks two teams from the mountain west it should be Utah and TCU because those are two teams that can compete best against non-BCS teams."

Well, Utah had a few squeakers, with a dash of luck thrown in this year.

TCU, OSU, AFA, UNM.

Yep, they can surely compete against BCS teams.

BYU's offense will keep them in any BCS game.

TCU is the only team from the MWC that would not get blown out by a BCS team.

Utah will have a difficult day at the Poinsettia bowl with neutral refs.

Go Cougs | 10:57 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Harline's still open!

Utes have already won! | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Who can you get to the Vegas Bowl finishing 3rd in the Mtn West or is that the "conquest"???

Prediction: BYU will have less yards and points in Salt Lake against Utah than I-AA Weber had!

Weber had 400+ yrds, 300+ passing and 21 points.

Good luck beating that BYU!! U wont!!

Frank | 11:06 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I don't care what bowl we go to. I just want to beat the pUkes AGAIN. Cougs offense is going to show up. If we get a few stops on defense, this game is ours.

Tournament Request | 11:06 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Funny how a win against Air Force and byU is all mighty and powerful again. Makes me laugh . . . Anyway, all this good humored and bad humored banter just convinces me more and more that a national championship tournament is the only way to put and end to these arguments.

If... | 11:16 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If Utah loses, this bowl season is going to be very boring for the MWC.

You really want to brag... | 11:18 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

...about your defense's performance against Weber?

"Prediction: BYU will have less yards and points in Salt Lake against Utah than I-AA Weber had! Weber had 400+ yrds, 300+ passing and 21 points."

More likely that strengthens the argument that BYUs offense should be able to keep them in the game.

Utah is NOT TCU and this game isn't being played in Dallas!

YtxPat | 11:19 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I am cheering for Utah. BYU looked like UCLA at the TCU game (I was at both). Let us all cheer for Utah to bust the BCS again and be invited to the NC game and win outright. Maybe then the U quarterback could get some national recognition and be voted the Heisman, then and ONLY THEN could they compare themselves to the Y, with a Heisman and an NC.

Oh, I almost forgot. The voting for the Heisman will already be over, oh well, better luck next year.

GO COUGS!

Ernest T Bass | 11:22 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Utah 13
TCU 10

Byu 7
TCU 32

realllly???? | 11:24 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

to:"Utes have already won! | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008
Prediction: BYU will have less yards and points in Salt Lake against Utah than I-AA Weber had!

Weber had 400+ yrds, 300+ passing and 21 points."

You are bragging about this?

This shows how weak Utah is, and reasons for a strong BYU to blast Utah out of the water.

Re: Premature Conjecture | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If this is indeed a "bowl" game for both teams, then we already know who the winner is (based on past bowl records). UTES!

BSU and MWC | 11:33 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I love BYU and will root for them in hopefully the best bowl they can get with this messed up BCS system, they have dominated the U for more years than any Ute can count.... but BYU has yet to beat BSU either home or away, now of course that was a couple/more years ago lest you Utah fans get too worked up-- but as far as records who has who. If the Utes want to play a real team come on up to Boise and see what happens to their tribe..... That being said Utah has done great this year and for the conference I want to support all of the MWC teams that are being overlooked, TCU, BYU, Utah. It only strengthens the conference to have all of them do better than the PAC-10 or Big 12 or supposed elitist conferences

BCS Buster | 11:37 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Why can't the Utes play in the championship game? Alabama is going to lose to Florida. And Texas Tech is going to get destroyed by Oklahoma! It would look pretty bad to have 2 teams with one loss playing for the championship, when there is an undefeated team around who has beaten a lot of ranked teams.

Tarheel Ute | 11:48 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

No one should be angry or hate any of these great teams!! Schools yes, idiot fans and bloggers yes, the BCS system most certainly.

The rules and voting of the CFB/BCS determined BYU the ï¿½mythicalï¿½ National Champion in 1984, Utah the first BCS buster in 2004, and in 2008, Utah and Boise the only realistic BCS candidates this year. Not their fault, they did what was allowed and required.

And this year, BYU, Utah and TCU are very close, so close that home field has been the deciding factor and donï¿½t blame Boise and Ball State for not playing in the MWC. The fault falls entirely upon college football leadership, Conference and University Presidents, Athletic Directors, Alumina organizations and Coaches who allow this patently unfair bowl selection process to continue.

These five teams, potentially three undefeated teams from the non-BCS conferences are all strong BCS contenders, but by rule, all but one will be excluded.

I donï¿½t expect a love fest, but must at least acknowledge the disadvantages we non-BCS schools have; and save your anger and hate for where it really belongs and where it could be of good use ï¿½ at the BCS.

Re: Sellout? | 12:00 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Suggestion - before you post, you may want to check your facts.

Exhibit A) This year's AVERAGE attendance figures exceed the stadium's listed capacity by several hundred.

Exhibit B) Utah played all of the teams you listed ON THE ROAD in 2008 - pretty tough to get 45000 fans to those conference road games. (But when I was watching them on TV, it looked like there was a substantial group of Ute fans at each one.)

GO UTES!!

Nostracougus | 12:17 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Glad to see the Deseret News has finally pointed out why I have been forecasting for weeks:

If BYU beats Utah, the Utes will fall to the Poinsettia Bowl.

All this Ute honk BCS smack will go the way of keeping the other team's best receiver in front of you on 4th and 18 by Saturday night.

We've done this, blah, blah, blah ... we've done that, blah, blah, blah.

"We hate Boise State because they have to rely on trick plays" -- says fans of the team that ran a gazillion trick plays on lowly Wyoming last year and kicked an onside kick ahead by 40-something points in the third quarter.

"We hate Boise State because their fans are obnoxious" -- yells the drunken Ute fan who participates in obscene chants and swears at visiting fans.

Win Saturday or shut up.

There would be nothing sweeter than seeing Utah and Boise State face off in the Poinsettia Bowl. I am not predicting Boise State to lose, however.

Utah -- from the Sugar to the Poinsettia by Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Bass Backwards | 12:21 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

When BYU beats Utah, there is no way the Utes go to the BCS ahead of the Cougars. No way.

BYU will be ranked ahead of them. There is not that big of a gap between the teams right now. Besides, the pollsters have short memories. After several weeks of further results, something like that could happen. But it will not happen after the last game of the regular season.

If BYU wins, they will be higher ranked than Utah -- in the polls and in the BCS. Don't forget, by beating Utah, BYU also gets a bump in the computers for Utah's supposed strength of schedule.

Head to head will determine who is best in this case.

Bowling for $$$$ | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Some people out there believe that going to one bowl game or another is about the chance to be a national champion.

There is a BCS championship game, but it is yet another opportunity for BCS conferences to get a lot more money.

The same goes for the other bowls. It is about $$$. If Utah wins Saturday all the teams not going to bowls in MWC will "earn" a cool 650 grand.

The game may be about competition for a few of the players, but it's really about the $$$$. Ask Alex Smith.

Re: High 5 | 12:40 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

"Utah will play hard, but uptight.
BYU will play hard, but loose."

If you'd have actually read all the articles about this game, you'd know that all the writers are saying the exact opposite: the Utes seem to be loose, while the Coogs are tightening up. Do some research please. Oh, and I know you dare not meet us in the MUSS!!

Utes by a touchdown!

Conference | 12:41 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Is cheering for Utah! BYU fans look at it this way, you know why nobody wants to play any MWC teams?

1. Because nobody thinks they are good!
2. Because they can't even get past the Vegas Bowl!

You know why Utah winning would be good for the conference?

1. Each university I think gets like $650,000.
2. MWC will have a representative in the BCS so everybody can see how good the MWC really is.
3. Utah would have a chance against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
4. Even if they don't play Alabama, they will play Florida and that would be a good matchup because Urban Meyer vs Utah and Wittingham.

BYU can't be selfish! They need Utah to win! For the conference's sake!

UTES | 12:42 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

The cougars are going to "put a hurting on the utes" like they did in 04.

Go UTES

Plus! | 12:43 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If BYU wins, and Boise wins out, who would want to see another WAC team in the BCS? That would be 3 WAC teams in the BCS and only 1 MWC. Then the next BCS conference would be the WAC and not the MWC!

Las Vegas Bowl | 12:51 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I certainly don't think its a sure thing that the Las Vegas Bowl would invite BYU even if they lose to Utah, I think TCU is a better choice.

First, TCU is likley the best team in the MWC Conference, yes they lost to Utah, but that was in SLC and it took two missed field goals in the last couple of minutes to make that happen. If they play five times, TCU wins at least three of them, even if all five were played in SLC. Certainly there is little question that TCU is better then BYU.

Secondly, the Las Vegas Bowl does not want Utah this year, no offense to Utah, but they don't want anyone backing into this game by losing. If Utah wins on Saturday they should get the BCS invitation, if they lose, they certainly won't be happy about Las Vegas.

Third, the Las Vegas Bowl likes BYU because they sell a lot of tickets when the Cougars are in town. This year the game is close to being sold out already, probably by BYU fans anticipating the Cougars being there, but nevertheless, already sold.

While the Pac 10 is down.... | 12:55 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Oregon, Arizona, Oregon State and Cal would finish at least 4-7 and I think OSU and Cal would be in the top 3.

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