Utes look for 11-0 on Rivalry week

The Utah Utes play BYU, a.k.a. the TDS (Team Down South) or BYWho, in the one of the most anticipated games in years. To accurately write words that capture the emotions this week around the city is hard to do, but...I'm up for the challenge.

The things swirling in the air...

• People are absolutely nuts over Urban Meyer right now. Urban is rumored to be going to Florida next season. I refuse to focus too much on that right now. Think of it like a great date and enjoy it while it lasts. Even if we are thinking a long-term marriage, its impossible to say what he is thinking. Florida might have $2 Million reasons why he would be interested in dating them for a while, and it would be hard to blame him. He is for now our coach and he is awfuly good. Similar situation to Rick Marjerus, who used to coach the Utes Basketball team to prominance. People were always interested in Rick, and while he entertained them, he didn't let their desire or money effect ultimately effect where he coached college baseketball.
• BCS. Assuming the Utes beat the TDS this week then they should be a lock for the #6 spot in the BCS rankings and a big time bowl. That said, there will still be alot of attention on the Auburn/Alabama, Cal/Stanford, and Michigan/OhioSt. A victory by any of the 2nd teams listed in that group would not only cement Utah's place, but possibly allow them to move up in rankings. Of that group, Michigan is most vulnerable, but who knows.
• ESPN Gameday did the national morning show outside Rice Eccles stadium. Thousands of Utah fans showed up at 8am to carry on and go nuts, even though it was about 30 degrees, with a few snow flurries. Nevermind, Utah's game doesn't start until 5pm local time. Many Ute fans participated in Operation Sombrero, in honor of a hopeful fiesta bowl appearance. It's definately not every Saturday you see hundreds of sombrero wearing guys on the streets of Salt Lake City. It was a great showing and there were even a few Cougar fans there to offer a contrast for the rivalry.
• Fans on both sides have talked alot of Smack. Utah's players have been pretty quick, but a couple of BYU's younger players have offered up opinions of "put a hurt on 'em" and "should be able to run well on them" that I'm sure won't go un-noticed.
• Couple of links to also note: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2004-11-18-lopresti_x.htm (Called, Get to Know the Utes) and for all the crazyness http://utefans.net (popular Utah fan forum).

I, like most logical and sane people, expect the Utes to win this game. However, I think Vegas is a little too agressive with a 21 1/2 point spread. I see turnovers by BYU being a key to how close it will be. No turnovers and this could be really tight, but with a couple turnovers, I'd expect Utah to win 31-17. If the weather stays good and BYU doesn't hold onto the ball, then the Cougars will get steamrolled.

FUN Stat to consider - In College football history there have been over 80 teams go undefeated for a whole season. Until now, only one team, Nebraska (in the 80s) was able to win every game on its schedule by 14 or more points. The Utes so far are in line to be only the 2nd team ever to accomplish this feat.

Go Utes!!!