Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LAS VEGAS -- It is finally here. The bowl streak is on the line. What a match-up, the two original BCS Busters? Merry Christmas to all of us!
The Utah Utes bring their 10-2 record to Las Vegas to tangle with 11-1 and 10th ranked Boise State, America's favorite perennial underdog. The Broncos are not the underdog this time though. In fact, according to Las Vegas lines this game is a borderline blowout. 17 points? What?
One reason for the big spread - quarterback. Kellen Moore for Boise State was a Heisman candidate and threw for four billion yards. Terrance Cain is the Utah quarterback and the last two passes he threw were caught by Jameson Frazier and Shane Hunter, both BYU players. Judging by those differences alone, this game is already over. No hope, right? None. On the game simulation at ESPN.com, Boise State won 87.2% of the time in a possible 10,000 simulations. No chance for the Utes. None, period.
The Broncos are the only team in the country with their overall offense and defense ranked in the top 4 in the nation. The Utes are 42nd on offense and 19th on defense - not bad, but certainly not Boise. According to those stats, the Utes don't have a chance. None.
The game tonight is being touted as one of the most intriguing bowl games in the country to watch, which means it is a big game. The big games the Utes played in this season, they are 1-2. They beat BYU, but got hammered by Notre Dame and there are not words in the English language that explain what happened to them at home against TCU (I tried to look them up). The Utes have struggled in big games this year. Struggled is putting it lightly. Utah again doesn't have a chance, none at all.
The only chance the Utes could get it done tonight is if they realize that they have struggled this year, and they are still 10-2. They need to realize that the unbeatable "David" has been slain once this season. It can be done. Utah needs to remember that they win bowl games, period. They need to remember that their backup quarterback used to be the starter, and he is 9-1 in those games. He has had the last three weeks to prepare, basically an offseason. The Utes need to remember that they have one of the best big game coaches in the nation. He is awesome when he has over a week to prepare. He is even better when he is preparing for a bowl game.
There is a chance for the Utes, and they are in Vegas. I will take my chances.
Don't count out the Utes just yet
by Robert Jackson, ksl.com sports writer Although Utah will be playing in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl for the first time in nine years, they find themselves in a very familiar situation.
Facing the Caron Palmer-led USC Trojans back in 2001, the Utes came into the game as huge underdogs. Utah's rushing duo of Dameon Hunter and Adam Tate combined for 197 yards as the Utes prevailed, 10-6.
Utah's Last 10 Bowl Games
| 1999 | Las Vegas Bowl | Fresno State | W | 17-16 |
| 2001 | Las Vegas Bowl | USC | W | 10-6 |
| 2003 | Liberty Bowl | Southern Miss | W | 17-0 |
| 2005 | Fiesta Bowl | Pittsburgh | W | 35-7 |
| 2005 | Emerald | Georgia Tech | W | 38-10 |
| 2006 | Armed Forces | Tulsa | W | 25-13 |
| 2007 | Poinsettia | Navy | W | 35-32 |
| 2009 | Sugar | Alabama | W | 31-17 |
| 2009 | Poinsettia | California | W | 37-27 |
| 2010 | Las Vegas Bowl | Boise State |
This season, once again, the Utes are huge underdogs. 17 point underdogs to be exact (to put that in perspective, that is the same spread the Vegas odds makers have Oklahoma beating up on lowly UConn from the Big East in the Fiesta Bowl).
Being an underdog is nothing new to the Utes, especially in bowl games.
In 2004, the Utes took to the field as the first non-BCS team to ever play in a BCS bowl game. They crushed Pitt 35-7.
In 2005, against Georgia Tech from the ACC, the Utes were given no chance. Utah crushed the Yellowjackets 38-10.
But perhaps the biggest display of David slaying Goliath came in January of 2009 when the Utes took on the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide from the SEC. Every analyst in the nation said that the Crimson Tide were "too good" and "too fast" for the little guys from the Mountain West.
Boy, were they wrong. Utah came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a 21 point lead, in the first quarter. By the time Alabama realized what hit them, it was too late. The Utes rolled, 31-17.
Yes, I do think that Boise State is equal to or better than all the other teams Utah has faced in their current bowl streak. But, the Utes seem to thrive in the underdog role.
Can Utah extend their current bowl win streak to ten games? We will find out tonight. Kickoff is set for 5 pm PT (6 MT) and the game be televised on ESPN HD.
Twitter:@rojackKSL
