College Football: BYU Top Five Finish? Utah in the BCS?

Those are some of the predictions floating around local talk radio in Salt Lake and on Rivals.com.

Green Bay Packer Brady Poppinga, a former BYU linebacker, was on a radio station in Salt Lake saying that BYU will finish in the top five.  Then there was a juvenile bet by one of the hosts who said Brady could take a full shot in pads if BYU makes the top five by year's end.

Top five is a lofty goal for a team that was not won a road non-conference game since 2002, when they defeated Utah State, but that should change this year—partly because they play Utah State on the road this year, and partly because they visit a subpar Washington.

If BYU were to get a top 20 preseason ranking, a top five finish could be a reality if they go undefeated.  The team has been ranked as high as 13th in an ESPN preseason poll and in the Athlon college magazine.

Here is the audio from former BYU Cougar Brady Poppinga and also an interview from former BYU Quarterback and current Miami Dolphins QB John Beck.

John Beck interview

Brady Poppinga Interview

As for Utah, there is an article at Rivals that discusses how the Utes could be a sleeper pick in the BCS race, and that it will hinge upon the team staying healthy.

The health starts with QB Brian Johnson, who should be 100 percent healthy this year.  Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will finally be able to run the spread with a quarterback who is capable.  Other players who were injured last year were star JUCO transfer Matt Asiata, as well as H-back Brent Casteel.

Back in 2005, before Brian Johnson tore his ACL, he had better numbers through ten games than Alex Smith did in 2004 during the Utes' Fiesta Bowl run, so we know he can play.

Quietly, the Utes could possibly, maybe sneak into a BCS bowl game.  If you read Phil Steele, he has the Utes ranked top 15 in his preseason poll.

This Utah team should be the closest in quality to the 2004 team and the best of the Kyle Wittingham era.  They have a chance to make a national splash in the Big House when the Utes play Michigan.

This post has been syndicated from the Mountain West Conference Connection.   Check out the blog news and subscribe.