Bring on #2

#2 University of Utah: 10-2 (7-1)
A lot of this season rides on the performance of Brian Johnson. As a sophomore he put up gigantic numbers, but was only 5-5 as a starter. He sat out the next year to rehab. Then as a junior he played the whole season with a bum shoulder, putting up pretty average numbers, but compiled an 8-2 record as a starter (counting the Oregon State game even though he got hurt in the first half, but not counting the UNLV game where he played the entire second half and didn't even score-I think they balance out). He must be healthy if the Utes have any dreams of getting to double-digit wins this year. The game at Michigan will be a real test. Their defense returns 7 starters from a 2007 squad that contained Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow in their bowl game victory. Florida runs a not-surprisingly similar offense to Utah's, though with better athletes. After Michigan the offense will have plenty of time to get on a roll before facing another BCS opponent, Oregon State. Between those two they have UNLV, Utah State, Air Force, and Weber State. They should have a great rushing attack with the Mack attack back, Asiata (who hasn't proven anything in D 1-A yet) and the BIG O-Line. If Johnson is healthy, he'll factor in the running game as well. They have size at WR in Freddie Brown and Brandon Godfrey, though I think they are less skilled than the receiving corps of past years. Go ahead Freddie Brown, prove me wrong (did he set the school record for dropped passes in a game last year, or just tie it). Of the non-BCS teams, BYU and Tulsa might be the only ones that have better offenses than the Utes do. Biggest weakness on offense: Andy Ludwig, perhaps one of the worst playcallers at a respectable college in the country. Too bad for the Utes because they have everything they need on offense to score 40 points a game.
Defensively they have a few very talented starters to replace. However, due to injuries last year some of the "non-starters" saw starters' minutes and got a few starts in. They may be susceptible against the run as they lack some of the big, strong, experienced inside guys on the line and at middle linebacker. With that said, Coach Whittingham always has his defense ready to hit, unless there's a Tank coming at them. They should be great on the outside with Misi, Kruger (great idea to move him to end instead of 5th string QB) up front, and Sylvester at the roving linebacker spot. They have some great corners, and if they don't call holding on Bryce McCain at all again this season, then no one will ever catch a ball in his zone. Biggest weakness: straight-up-the-gut run defense.
Outlook: winning at Michigan to start the season would set the table for an undefeated run. They will give Rich Rodriguez and his boys all they can handle, but I think they'll fall short by about 10 in the end. They always have one head scratcher in conference (UNLV 27-0 last year). If they can overcome that, then the game against BYU could be two top 20 teams going against each other with a shot at the BCS on the line. The schedule is pretty light. Michigan and Oregon State are the headliners out of conference, but all predictions have those two as having somewhat down years. Utah State and Weber State (1-AA) are probably worse than practice or a scrimmage. The tougher league opponents are at home and they get TCU on a Thursday night (which is not their night-they are 1-5 over the past 3 seasons) at home.
Lou Holtz wasn't too far off his rocker when he said that Utah is the most talented non-BCS team, they are certainly in the top 5 for a title like that. The thing that sets them (and a few others-probably BYU, Boise State, Hawaii, and Fresno State-sorry MAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt!) apart from other non-BCS teams is the size of the offensive and defensive lines. They don't have a guy under 300 on the O-Line-even the backups are over 300-and they average about 280 on the defensive line, and they aren't just big, fat slow guys either. They are strong, quick, talented big fat guys.
Losses: Michigan, week 1 (the Big House will prove just big enough of a challenge); New Mexico, week 10 (for some reason they seem to underperform against UNM, even when they win)
Big wins: Oregon State, week 6, sweet redemption; BYU, sweeter redemption times two (this WILL be the BEST non-BCS game of the year).
What it all means: the win against BYU may actually cost the conference (and therefore the Utes) millions of dollars, as it very likely knocks BYU out of the BCS automatic berth range. It will help the Utes to a top 25 ranking and should put the Vegas Bowl in a bit of a predicament as they may have to choose between an 11-1 BYU team and a 10-2 Utah team that beat BYU.
Future: Offensively, this is the year for the Utes to get back to 2004 form as they've got size, talent, speed, AND experience. Defensively, the Utes are probably going to field an even better squad in 2009, as they only start 1 senior. Would 10-2, adding a bowl victory against a Pac-10 opponent, be enough for some BCS team to lure Whit away? Nope. Would 8-4, with this team's talent, be enough for Whit to get canned? Probably not, but he might want to fire Ludwig just to be safe. Well, he should do that regardless of where they finish the season.