Overlooking UCLA?

[SkoUtes]

Is anyone else worried about the week 1 matchup vs UCLA. Seems like most analysts/journalists are skimming right over the first week and giving Utah a win in Pasadena. I know UCLA hasn’t been great, but by no means do I think this will be an easy W. Especially with Nico transferring in and it being our first game with a new offense. Idk let me know your thoughts. I feel like I am more worried about this game than other people.

[pedro]

I think that if anyone on the fan side or admin side is overlooking anyone, they should be shot

[Tony (admin)]

I’m 50/50 or even 60/40 (loss). They always have high talent players. It’s the first week. It’s a road game. New offense etc.

[ALUF]

We can absolutely lose this game!

Not overlooking anyone except cal poly

[UteFan Vineyard]

After last season, we definitely can’t afford to overlook any team this year.

[UtesRule]

No way the team overlooks game 1. Guarantee it.

Not guaranteeing a win, but a loss will not be because of overlooking UCLA.

[Uteanooga]

I just can’t imagine Utah overlooking UCLA- or anyone for that matter.

[Jackalope Joe]

Last time we played (and lost) in Pasadena I remember being so frustrated that they were the more physically dominant team. If I remember right, their center was cooking our D-line. And they had DTR and Charbonnet at the time which makes for a very difficult offense to scheme against, but still, they just repeatedly punched us in the mouth and came out on top.

They have some very talented and very athletic players this year as well. Because of the bad taste in my mouth from Utah’s recent performances, I am very worried about opening up on the road against them. I think we can win, I think we SHOULD win, but I think it is going to be a very tough ball game.

If anyone is overlooking UCLA and we do end up losing, I hope they get reamed.

[RedRocks]

After the last couple of seasons, I am trying to be mentally prepared for Utah to lose every game.
After the usual overdose of off-season Kool-Aid, I am hopeful that Utah will win every game.

I know reality will be somewhere in between, but hopefully the wins (and losses) are more entertaining.

I am definitely not counting UCLA as a guaranteed win. I doubt anyone paying attention (including the team) is going to overlook UCLA.

[Rick]

I am with you! UCLA was not an offensive juggernaut last season but their rushing defense was in the top 5 last year in the Big10. I have no clue what our WRs will be this season and if they make us one dimensional on offense that could be trouble.

[utefansince79]

Very much want this one. College sports and conference affiliation in the entire Western part of the country is a terrible mess due largely to the LA schools heading to the Big10.

[RedRocks]

Agreed. This is the kind of game you just can’t lose if you want people to take you seriously, both as a team (Utah) and a conference (Big12). We only have so many chances to play/beat teams from the ‘Power 2’ (ugh) conferences.

[The Miami Ute]

By virtue of the results of the last two years, Utah has lost the right and ability to overlook any team on their schedule, to include Cal-Poly. For me, it’s going to take a couple of successful seasons before I start getting the feeling that we can beat any team as we walk off the bus.

[Holladay Ute]

For all the reasons everybody already stated, I think a loss is totally possible. Much like us, they weren’t very good last year, but they weren’t terrible either (a lot of closeish games). Other than the TN QB transfer, what else did they gain/lose in the offseason?

I think it’s close to a 50/50 game, but I do think it’s more likely we win. And there’s no way Utah is overlooking it.

I’m just glad we’re playing some good non-conference programs. In our two Rose Bowl years, we had real preseason tests (and lost several of them). I think it’s better for our team to play tougher non-conference games. If we lose this one, it’s not the end of the world. It would definitely be an important step toward maintaining/improving our national respect, but it’s not a make or break game.

[bopahull]

Seeing as how we usually come out of the gate in super slow mode, a loss to UCLA wouldn’t exactly shock me.
My hope is that the offense comes out on fire and the defense is the best we’ve ever had. My guess is we will see something a little less spectacular than that.
I think we win this one but it does look like a 55/45 type of game.

[Central Coast Ute]

I hate to say this but I’m just trying to force myself to care at this point. I have heard that UCLA is the first game several times but I forgot that until I read this post and will probably forget it again. In years past I would take one look at the schedule and know the order of the games exactly. I hope the Utes win every game but at the end of the year if players are just going to bail and then I’ll get blamed online for not donating a ton of money to the collective, it’s just hard for me to have my usual fandom.
Like others, I have had too much to drink from the Kool Aid too. It’s just exhausting.

[HoosierUte]

The 6-7 pt road spread does seem odd to me. fUCLA finished with a meh record last year, but their only badish loss was probably UW. They had a 5-game skid but come on, IU-LSU-Oregon-Penn State-Minn. Seriously? Can’t blame them for dropping the Minn game (who are a pretty good team) on the back end of that stretch. Both teams will be installing new offenses. I would call this game a toss-up, with the edge to the home team. No way the team is overlooking these guys.

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