Pittsburgh looks to win Big East Fiesta lotto

The University of Utah football team is un-defeated and poised for its first BCS bowl game ever. They are most likely to play in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the Big East Conference Champion. It is still possible for the Utes to play in the Rose or Sugar bowls, but there would have to be a few upsets in college football this week. Now a smart man, would be quiet and wait to see how things pan out before making projections or comments about what is likely to happen. Sorry, I can't do it.

I predict Utah to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 45-21 in the Fiesta Bowl. Since on a national radio show this weekend I heard a Pittsburgh fan start trash talking the Utes a little early, I thought I would forward a response letter to the Panthers that while not really written by the Fiesta Bowl committee, should have been. (Note: assumptions made that things go as predicted over the final week of college football and the two teams actually meet)

Dear Pittsburgh Panthers,

We thank you for your interest in the Tostitos Fiesta bowl. We politely decline the extension of an invitation to your school. We did a quick review of your resume and offer a few points of note:

• At 7-3, with only a pending game against South Florida, your record seems adequate for a mid major school in a under-performing conference. However, the BCS bowls are generally reserved for teams that have played up to their potential and established themselves among their peers.
• As nice as your 7-3 record seems, we honestly thought you were 2-8. Our mistake. Upon further review we noticed that you scored late or in overtime to beat Furman (Division 1-AA), Temple (2 wins all year), Boston College, Notre Dame, and West Virginia. Congratulations on that. Instead of being an embarrassment to your conference and families, you rallied to win both your pride and the title of the best team in a conference filled with almost-woulda-coulda-shouldas.
• It should be noted in all 3 of your losses you were beaten by 7 or more points.

Oh wait, never mind. We just received a phone call on your behalf. Please disregard the above notes and any comments we may have made that seem to slight you and your fine institution. We hereby accept your RSVP for the Tostitos party. Please forgive the confusion, we weren't initially aware that you were invited, nor after looking at your credentials were we sure that you were qualified to attend. However, your Daddy, Mr. BCS has personally called to get you on the invitee list. It seems you belong to the right fraternity of big schools and conferences that have guaranteed themselves invitations to all the big parties and a lion share of the cover charges generated by such parties. So...Congratulations and welcome to the Fiesta Bowl. If your alumni and fans need directions to Tempe, we suggest heading west and away from the east coast bias. Find I-40 and drive until you smell our delicious nachos and southwestern appetizers.

Sincerely,

U. R. Whelkum

Fiesta Bowl Director

Okay, silly letter aside. I don't see the Utes being challenged by the Panthers. I'll spend the weekend hoping that the Utes fall into another opponent or that the BCS will realize they CAN have their cake and eat it too, by making Auburn and Utah play, while relegating Pitt to play Texas or another "we almost did it" team.