Battle of the Brothers: Utah vs. Utah St.

[The_Douger]

I think they'll score more than ten.

[TripletDaddy]

Why are people still debating the point spread? The Utes are not going to lose this game. The Aggies are a good team, Utah is better.

[kimchicoug]

As one of the few people here with a USU degree proudly hanging in my office, I'm all in USU winning a close one! Go Aggies! Romney stadium will be rocking and the premature "BCS" chants will start (again).

[Goatnapper'96]

I don't see the Aggies scoring more than 10 against the Ute defense. What I am curious about is whether the Ute offense will be able to move the ball well.

I agree. The Aggies are a solid team but the only thing that keeps the game remotely close is whether or not Utah's offense is inept.

[byu71]

Did anyon mention the Utes are only favored by 7? Do you think that is because so many of their PAC12 brethern looked so crappy in their opening games?

[LA Ute]

I agree. The Aggies are a solid team but the only thing that keeps the game remotely close is whether or not Utah's offense is inept.

Alas, we have more reason to fear offensive ineptitude than I wish were the case.

[Goatnapper'96]

Did anyon mention the Utes are only favored by 7? Do you think that is because so many of their PAC12 brethern looked so crappy in their opening games?

I think it is because there are a lot of questions about the Utes' offensive prowess. Saying that I from when I watched Utah State last year I thought they were quite a bit worse than BYU. Many of the teams BYU decimated, post the qb debacle getting cleared up, Utah State barely beat. In the face to face matchup I thought only Jake Heaps' inability to throw the football to the gentlemen wearing the same color jersey is why the game was a game. Saying that I realize BYU's luck in winning that game. I guess my point is given the totality of Utah State's season and recognizing they lost two very good players to the NFL - is Chuckie Keeton's improvement enough to help USU make a jump as a team from last year?

Perhaps it will be but I went into this year thinking USU would have another 7-5 or 6-6 season with two of those losses being decisive losses to BYU and Utah. Perhaps Utah's offense will struggle enough to keep this game relatively close - that is my prediction, but I expect Utah's offense to eventually heat up. Wynn is better than many give him credit although he is battered, wounded and physically a shell of what he could have become. White is a great back, the U has some playmakers at receiver and a very good tight end. Eventually they are going to figure out how to move the ball.

[pelagius]

I think it is because there are a lot of questions about the Utes' offensive prowess.

This may be true (and LA Ute's confidence of less than 10 points scored by Utah State may come to pass) but it is not a good explanation for the Vegas line on the game. The line is -7 and the over/under is 54. Thus, the implied expected score from the vegas odds is

Utah|30.5
State|23.5

Thus the Vegas expectation is that Utah can score fairly well on the Aggies.

[Sullyute]

This may be true (and LA Ute's confidence of less than 10 points scored by Utah State may come to pass) but it is not a good explanation for the Vegas line on the game. The line is -7 and the over/under is 54. Thus, the implied expected score from the vegas odds is

Utah|30.5
State|23.5

Thus the Vegas expectation is that Utah can score fairly well on the Aggies.

I am taking the under. I think the defenses will shine.

[Moliere]

Aggies fans are expecting a win...

Utah is certainly not out of our league anymore in regards to talent and I'll take our coach over any of the other in-state coaches. Under Coach A we haven't laid an egg against any top tier opponent yet. In college, especially rivalry games, emotion will be critical and USU is hungry to prove themselves. Could we beat them 2 out of 3? Probably not. But on a one game basis at home, yes. I'm expecting a win. Not just keeping it close for a moral victory, but a win. These are the games we need to take the next step.

[Portland Ute]

Aggies fans are expecting a win...

That's funny.

Of the three DI head coaches. I'd take him last.

Whit
Bronco



Andersen

I generally like USU. However, this unfounded bravado deserves a thorough thrashing.

They lost a boat load of talent to graduation. I fail to see how addition by subtraction applies this year.

You don't just lose a guy like Robert Turbin if you are USU and get better.

WTF is this guy kidding that USU is on the same level talent-wise as Utah?

USU fans are stupid.

The only thing he says that is true is that on any given day, USU could beat Utah if USU can use the emotion from the crowd and Utah doesn't come to play.

USU may win this game. Anything can happen. But it sure as hell won't be because they are as talented or better coached.

[Pelado]

That's funny.

Of the three DI head coaches. I'd take him last.

Whit
Bronco



Andersen

I generally like USU. However, this unfounded bravado deserves a thorough thrashing.

They lost a boat load of talent to graduation. I fail to see how addition by subtraction applies this year.

You don't just lose a guy like Robert Turbin if you are USU and get better.

WTF is this guy kidding that USU is on the same level talent-wise as Utah?

USU fans are stupid.

The only thing he says that is true is that on any given day, USU could beat Utah if USU can use the emotion from the crowd and Utah doesn't come to play.

USU may win this game. Anything can happen. But it sure as hell won't be because they are as talented or better coached.

Don't worry - Whit will hold that fan accountable.

[TripletDaddy]

The Aggies haven't laid eggs?

The Auburn game?
The BYU game?
How many games did they blow in the final minutes last season?

These guys are clowns.

[The_Douger]

They were in those games.

I think he means getting curbstomped.

[Goatnapper'96]

That's funny.

Of the three DI head coaches. I'd take him last.

Whit
Bronco



Andersen

I generally like USU. However, this unfounded bravado deserves a thorough thrashing.

They lost a boat load of talent to graduation. I fail to see how addition by subtraction applies this year.

You don't just lose a guy like Robert Turbin if you are USU and get better.

WTF is this guy kidding that USU is on the same level talent-wise as Utah?

USU fans are stupid.

The only thing he says that is true is that on any given day, USU could beat Utah if USU can use the emotion from the crowd and Utah doesn't come to play.

USU may win this game. Anything can happen. But it sure as hell won't be because they are as talented or better coached.

I am trying to figure out where their optimism comes from. I read Rocky over on Cougarboard talking about the local media hyping up Utah State. Perhaps that is it, I did read their site a bit after the BYU game and many of their fans were surprised at BYU this year and suddenly not feeling so confident about their sure victory in Provo so perhaps they have been buying SLC media hype - I don't follow SLC media so I don't know who or what they have been hyping. I recall how I felt about Bronco when he led BYU to our Shawshank Redemption, and that does cloud one's perspective on a coach's ability, but perhaps it is the media stroking their egos because of what a great dude GA and how good he is about working with them. I don't get it because when I compare what I saw in the times I paid attention to USU last year to what they seem to think they got going for them I am stumbling upon one huge disconnect. I say again if Utah's offense is as bad as many are making it out to be, and to be honest it would not surprise me if the U offense struggles a bit this week, the game could stay at 10-14 points (perhaps as low as 7 if Utah has some FUBAR moments in its kicking game) but for USU to win is going to require Utah to play really poorly. If Utah doesn't play poorly there is nothing USU can do to win, IMO.