It has been an amazing an unpredictable college football season so far. Here is my impression of where the state's teams will finish.
Utah Utes (3-1)
In looking back on Utah's season, normally you would be impressed if your team has wins over Fresno State and Michigan. However, both the Bulldogs and the Wolverines are having sub-par seasons in 2014 and after 5 weeks and those wins don't look so impressive right now. Saying this, I had Utah at least beating Washington State, Arizona and Colorado to get into the post-season this year. Now, after the Washington State loss, I am not so sure that will happen.
But don't give up on the Utes just yet. Someone is going to look past the Utes, just like Stanford did last year. I don't know who that will be, but someone will. For the record, Utah's defense is great. Their Special Teams are Special. But the offense needs work.
Predicted finish:
worst case: 5-7
best case: 7-5
Probable wins...
Arizona
Colorado
Probable losses
UCLA
USC
Oregon
Stanford
Toss-up
Oregon State
Arizona State
MVP So Far: PR Kaelin Clay
BYU Cougars
A Deseret News article states that the unbeaten Cougars are on Red Alert. That may not be a good thing. You know what happens when a team plays not to lose? Usually they don't win. Yes, there are some mistakes that BYU needs to clean up, especially on defense. Utah State or Boise State or Nevada or Central Florida or California could do what Virginia and Houston could not finish.
There is no reason why BYU can't finish the season undefeated. The real question is whether or not an unbeaten season will impress the playoff committee. BYU's offense is performing as predicted. Taysom Hill is not a great throwing quarterback, but can punish defenses with his arm when it is necessary. And if it wasn't for special teams play, Virginia would have won. They will need that going forward.
Predicted Finsish
Best Case: 12-0
Worst Case: 10-2
Probable Wins:
Utah State
Central Florida
Nevada
Boise State
Middle Tennessee
UNLV
Savannah State
Toss Up:
California
MVP So Far: QB Taysom Hill
Utah State Aggies (2-2)
I am not one to be down on the Aggies after the loss to Arkansas State. When one progresses forward, there are bound to be steps backward from time to time. Certainly, the Aggies need a healthy Chuckie Keeton to win the MW, but they are still in the race.
The Vigil Brothers anchor a solid defense, and USU should give some teams, especially running team, some headaches before the year is over.
Predicted Finsish
Worst Case: 8-4
Best Case: 9-3
Probable Wins
Air Force
UNLV
Hawaii
Wyoming
New Mexico
San Jose State
Boise State
Probable Losses
BYU
Toss Up
Colorado State
MVP So Far: LBs Nick and Zach Vigil
Weber State Wildcats (0-5)
They say that Rome wasn't built in a day. Even if a team seems like they have improved, there may be similar results at the end of the season. There are winnable games on the Wildcats schedule. They may not be until the end of the season. It will take some patience to get there. However, if they take care of the ball, we may see positive results sooner rather than later.
As a positive, Bill Green is looking like a good choice for Weber State at quarterback. Sooner or later, it will pay off. If they continue to improve, 2015 may see WSU return to their winning ways.
Predicted Finish
Best Case 4-8
Worst Case 3-9
Probable Wins
North Dakota
Northern Colorado
Idaho State
Probable Losses
Cal Poly
Montana State
Northern Arizona
Toss Up
Portland State
MVP So Far: WR Shaydon Kehano
Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-4)
People were predicting another big season when Gary Crowton came to Cedar City to run the offense. But it could have been a move of a desperate man trying to resurrect his career. Last season wasn't about how awesome the offense was. They were a punt and play defense team. And if their result isn't as good in 2014, it is because they have gotten away from that mantra. They held Nevada to 28 points. That kind of defense will help them win more than 3 Big Sky games this year.
Predicted Finish
Best Case 4-8
Worst Case 3-9
Probable Wins
Idaho State
North Dakota
Probable Losses
Cal Poly
Montana
Northern Arizona
Toss Up
Sacramento State
MVP So Far: QB Ammon Olsen
Power Rankings
Pac-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. USC
5. Washington
6. Arizona State
7. Oregon State
8. Arizona
9. Washington State
10. Utah
11. California
12. Colorado
MVP So Far: Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Army
MVP So Far: BYU QB Taysom Hill
MWC
1. Colorado State
2. Nevada
3. Utah State
4. Boise State
5. San Diego State
6. Air Force
7. Wyoming
8. Fresno State
9. San Jose State
10. Hawaii
11. New Mexico
12. UNLV
MVP So Far: Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Montana State
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Arizona
6. Davis
7. Portland State
8. Sacramento State
9. Southern Utah
10. Idaho State
11. Weber State
12. North Dakota
13. Northern Colorado
MPV So Far: Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Explanation for the lack of posts.
On August 12, 2014, I was involved in a serious accident. I wasn't seriously injured, but I was injured and my recovery has taken longer and become more complicated than I imagined it would be. I have also been assisting in the care of my mother who recently had a serious stroke. Life has gotten in the way of this blog.
But here are my impressions on how the college football season has gone so far for our Utah teams.
BYU has been impressive on offense and defense. The last year they started this well in both scoring points and defense was 1977. However, that all ended when Gifford Nielsen suffered a season-ending injury at Oregon State. I'm not going to call BYU's season this year a special one, yet. Let's see if they are still unbeaten after the Central Florida game.
My prediction: 10-2 and not quite in a big bowl game.
Utah is better on offense this year...but defense? The defense looked better for most of the Fresno State game. But the Bulldogs did score 20 points after the game was out of reach. However, those points were scored against the scrubs. Fresno is rebuilding this year, and was probably not best test for the Utes. Idaho State's Xavier Finney ran for 133 yards. Something that should have never happened. Michigan will provide a healthy test for Utah on both sides of the ball. Win or lose, we will learn a lot about the Utes next week. If Utah played California instead of Oregon, I would be confident that they would be in a bowl game this year.
My prediction: 5-7
Utah State was embarrassed at Tennessee. There is no panic in Logan, just yet. Tennessee is not exactly what they were when Payton Manning played there. But they were good enough to win the way they did against USU. The Aggies have to improve if they are to win the Mountain Division. Right now, Boise State looks like a loss. Colorado State, who is improved, could beat them as that game is in Fort Collins. That would still put them in a bowl game, but not one they would like to go to.
My prediction: 9-4 and the Armed Forces Bowl
Weber State looks improved. They were blown out by Arizona State, which should surprise no one. They came close, for 3 quarters, to upsetting North Dakota State. They have a winnable game this week against Sacramento State. Hopefully the first win of the Jay Hill era.
My prediction: 4-8
Southern Utah looks lost so far this season. But they can get back on track when they come home to face South Dakota State. It is a must-win game for the Thunderbirds because you don't want to host Weber State looking for your first win of the season. Especially if the Wildcats have already have their first W under their belt.
My prediction: 4-8
For this week, I expect BYU will pull out a close victory against Houston. Utah State will win a nail biter against Wake Forest. Southern Utah will lose to South Dakota State. And Weber State will get a W against Sacramento State.
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Army
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. USC
5. Arizona State
6. Washington
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Oregon State
10. California
11. Colorado
12. Washington State
Mountain West
1. San Diego State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. Colorado State
5. Fresno State
6. San Jose State
7. Nevada
8. UNLV
9. Wyoming
10. Air Force
11. Hawaii
12. New Mexico
Great Big Super Huge Sky.
1. Montana
2. Eastern Washington
3. Montana State
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Arizona
6. Portland State
7. Sacramento State
8. Southern Utah
9. UC Davis
10. Northern Colorado
11. Weber State
12. North Dakota
13. Idaho State
But here are my impressions on how the college football season has gone so far for our Utah teams.
BYU has been impressive on offense and defense. The last year they started this well in both scoring points and defense was 1977. However, that all ended when Gifford Nielsen suffered a season-ending injury at Oregon State. I'm not going to call BYU's season this year a special one, yet. Let's see if they are still unbeaten after the Central Florida game.
My prediction: 10-2 and not quite in a big bowl game.
Utah is better on offense this year...but defense? The defense looked better for most of the Fresno State game. But the Bulldogs did score 20 points after the game was out of reach. However, those points were scored against the scrubs. Fresno is rebuilding this year, and was probably not best test for the Utes. Idaho State's Xavier Finney ran for 133 yards. Something that should have never happened. Michigan will provide a healthy test for Utah on both sides of the ball. Win or lose, we will learn a lot about the Utes next week. If Utah played California instead of Oregon, I would be confident that they would be in a bowl game this year.
My prediction: 5-7
Utah State was embarrassed at Tennessee. There is no panic in Logan, just yet. Tennessee is not exactly what they were when Payton Manning played there. But they were good enough to win the way they did against USU. The Aggies have to improve if they are to win the Mountain Division. Right now, Boise State looks like a loss. Colorado State, who is improved, could beat them as that game is in Fort Collins. That would still put them in a bowl game, but not one they would like to go to.
My prediction: 9-4 and the Armed Forces Bowl
Weber State looks improved. They were blown out by Arizona State, which should surprise no one. They came close, for 3 quarters, to upsetting North Dakota State. They have a winnable game this week against Sacramento State. Hopefully the first win of the Jay Hill era.
My prediction: 4-8
Southern Utah looks lost so far this season. But they can get back on track when they come home to face South Dakota State. It is a must-win game for the Thunderbirds because you don't want to host Weber State looking for your first win of the season. Especially if the Wildcats have already have their first W under their belt.
My prediction: 4-8
For this week, I expect BYU will pull out a close victory against Houston. Utah State will win a nail biter against Wake Forest. Southern Utah will lose to South Dakota State. And Weber State will get a W against Sacramento State.
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Army
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. USC
5. Arizona State
6. Washington
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Oregon State
10. California
11. Colorado
12. Washington State
Mountain West
1. San Diego State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. Colorado State
5. Fresno State
6. San Jose State
7. Nevada
8. UNLV
9. Wyoming
10. Air Force
11. Hawaii
12. New Mexico
Great Big Super Huge Sky.
1. Montana
2. Eastern Washington
3. Montana State
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Arizona
6. Portland State
7. Sacramento State
8. Southern Utah
9. UC Davis
10. Northern Colorado
11. Weber State
12. North Dakota
13. Idaho State
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