Originally Posted by SteveS
Utah IS the underdog ... that's a fact ...
4 years ago, that might not have been the case ... if this were the same Utah team that went undefeated in '04, Utah would win ... as a point of clear fact, had the BCS committee been fair in '04, Utah would've beat Auburn in the #2 BCS game ... I'm sure you don't agree, but I'd have bet $$ on it ...
This years' team is not as good as the '04 team was ... they've had to scramble more to win and have performed unevenly at times ... it they have one of their better days, it'll be a really good game and they'll have a chance to win ... if they have an average day, they probably won't cover the spread ... and if they somehow have their worst game of the year on Friday, it could be as bad as you predict.
Now I don't think you can cross over the years... If you played the '04 Utes v. the '04 Crimson Tide then yes Utah would have won.
However, trying to be as unbiased as possible, there is no way that '04 Utah would have beaten '04 Auburn... unless hell froze over. The amount of talent on the teams is so different its ridiculous.
'04 Utah players
PLAYING in the NFL:
Chris Kemoatu - PITTSBURGH
Jonathan Fanene - CINCINATI
Seve Fifita - MIAMI
John Madsen - OAKLAND
Paul Soliai - MIAMI
Eric Weddle - SAN DIEGO
Alex Smith - SAN FRANCISCO (though he shouldn't count because I believe his career is almost done)
'04 Auburn players
STARTING in the NFL:
Jason Campbell - WASHINGTON
Carlos Rogers - WASHINGTON
Carnell Williams - TAMPA BAY
Ronnie Brown - MIAMI
Ben Grubbs - BALTIMORE
Marcus McNeil - SAN DIEGO
Jay Ratliff - DALLAS
Will Herring - SEATTLE
'04 Auburn players getting playing time in NFL:
Quentin Groves - JACKSONVILLE
Courtney Taylor - SEATTLE
...plus a few more on IR...
You wouldn't have won.