Rivalry Week…BYU vs UTAH for a BCS BID
I’m a Utahn and I don’t hide the fact that I am no fan of BYU football, call it good parenting. Anyway, it is rare that the game between UTAH and BYU means so much in the overall scheme of things. If Utah wins then they are all but guaranteed a BCS bid and a whole lot of money going to the program. If BYU wins they can get into the BCS also because they are close right now and the BIG EAST and ACC are both so down that BYU could seriously get consideration for the game.
If UTAH wins the school gets bragging rights back and a big big payday. It will put the program in the spotlight and shine an even brighter light on head coach Kyle Whittingham. The win will put UTAH against the winner of the BIG EAST or ACC and give them a meaningless game in the BCS so this is their last real important game of the season. In fact, you’ll remember a few years ago when Utah was undefeated and got stuck playing a PItt team that won the BIg East. PITT got in as the winner of the BIG EAST but that was weak. Utah killed them and helped them be undefeated but they were left wanting more. The same will happen this year to the UTES with a win over the Cougars.
If BYU wins then we have an interesting scenario. We would have a 3 way tie atop the MWC with BYU, TCU and UTAH. TCU crushed BYU and Utah beat TCU. All 3 teams would have a legit claim at the conference title and a legit claim on a BCS spot. This is bad for the conference if you ask me. TCU has lost 2 games now with one of them being to Oklahoma but a 2 loss team from the MWC can’t get into a BCS game at large. Utah can’t get in over BYU if BYU beats them head to head on their home field. BYU can’t get in when they got smoked by TCU, but they have the best claim based on 1 road loss and some convincing wins other wise.
Don’t forget that I dislike BYU football and don’t want them to win but something inside tells me that BYU is going to pull it out on Saturday and screw up everything for everyone. We’ll probably see BYU or UTAH play some 5th place PAC 10 school in the Vegas bowl again where the MWC will again prove that top to bottom it’s a better conference this season.
