Utes Take The Easy Road

After a season that saw the Utah Utes reach great heights, finishing second in the polls, things are starting to come back to Earth.

For starters, the Utes lost a number of them on both sides of the ball. 

Many were influential to their winning in 2008. 

Sophomore defensive end Paul Kruger and his seven and one-half sacks, and the leadership of quarterback Brian Johnson to name two.

So, the Utes may have been seeking to lighten their schedule rather than trying to take on top 10 teams.

First there are only three opponents that the Utes could face this season who are not Utah State or a part of the Mountain West. 

Those three teams will be critical choices for any team seeking to bust the BCS for a third time.

Conventionally wisdom says the Utes should choose popular picks for top 25 who may be low hanging fruit for the team, like Michigan was last year.

However, the teams they did decide to play can only be called the fruit on the ground.

San Jose State (WAC), Oregon (Pac-10) and Louisville (Big East) were the choices this year.

Louisville and San Jose State are non-factors.

Both teams were less than impressive, even among their own conferences last season.

The key to the Utes success will be what they can do against Oregon.  The Ducks were second in the Pac-10 last year.  They certainly will be in the running in the top 25 next season.

If the Utes are to bust their back to the big boy bowls, they will need to keep a clean sheet—no losses.

They need to show that they are a able to handle their own conference, let alone outside the confernce.

TCU and BYU will have to also play well enough to be considered top 25 contenders to force Utah back up into the top 10. 

If these teams in the Mountain West can get victories against their non-conference rivals, it could set the table again for the Utes.

Of course if TCU, BYU and San Diego State get better, the Utes may have their hands full in their own conference.