SI picks Utes to win PAC12 South.

[InGameStrategy]

I'm actually curious to see how Independence plays out for BYU over the next few years because I must admit that I'm rather confused as to what the desired endgame is for them. If it's more about furthering the church's mission, I would guess that they will probably remain an independent for a very long time. However, staying indepentdent long term doesn't seem to be in the football programs best interest. As an independent, BYU will most likely never enjoy the BCS acccess that Notre Dame does. So how long are BYU fans going to be happy with yearly trips to The Armed Forces Bowl, etc?

At least as long as they were happy with trips to the Las Vegas Bowl ...

At least now they have some say about the "mid-major" bowl they can vie for. They're not locked into a trip to Sin City or maybe being the counterweight to a 4th-ranked PAC-12 team.

 

[Scat]

So Salty's argument is that Utah has a shot because USC is ineligible? You're not the real winner but because the person better than you screwed up we'll give you the prize... that's some good stuff right there.

 

[Deleted member 365]

I'm actually curious to see how Independence plays out for BYU over the next few years because I must admit that I'm rather confused as to what the desired endgame is for them. If it's more about furthering the church's mission, I would guess that they will probably remain an independent for a very long time. However, staying indepentdent long term doesn't seem to be in the football programs best interest. As an independent, BYU will most likely never enjoy the BCS acccess that Notre Dame does. So how long are BYU fans going to be happy with yearly trips to The Armed Forces Bowl, etc? How much meaning is a season going to hold when BYU loses their first game in week 2 or 3 and BYU fans automatically know that bowl they are headed to regardless of how BYU finishes the rest of the season? The easiest way to play your way into a BCS bowl game is via conference play. Hell, Utah, Boise St, Hawaii and TCU have proven that it doesn't even have to be a BCS conference.

Speculation has been that if Texas A&M bolts for the SEC, the Big 12 may contact BYU and Houston in an attempt to salvage the league (assuming Texas stays). We've heard whispers that BYU might not accept a Big 12 invite if one is even extended. Looking at it from a strictly football point of view, BYU would be MORONIC not to accept that invite. It immediately gives you more BCS access than you've ever had, a huge presence in Texas recruiting, built in TV money that you'd probably never reach on your own, and the ability to play a nationally respected schedule without traveling across the nation all season long or playing half your schedule against WAC schools.

I'm interested to see how this all works out.

From the interviews with Holmoe this week, he sounded like BYU didn't care about joining another conference. that Ind is somewhat of an ends instead of a means.

Of course, he was probably just playing it safe. If it gets out that BYU desperately wants to join a big conference and they don't/cannot, then they'll really look bad. And this independence thing doesn't look so great.

But if they give off the vibe that ind. was/is exactly what they want, then they don't look too bad (at least, for a while) if they stay independent and wait patiently for the right opportunity to move into a BCS conference.

 

[SaltyDawg]

So Salty's argument is that Utah has a shot because USC is ineligible? You're not the real winner but because the person better than you screwed up we'll give you the prize... that's some good stuff right there.

No, my argument is that Utah is better than USC, and even the national media is saying Utah is in the consensus top 2 picks to represent the PAC 12 South in the championship game.

Basically, my argument is that Sports Illustrated's prediction was not far fetched. The rest of the national media has the Utes pretty close to where Sports Illustrated has them.

 

[SaltyDawg]

I'm interested to see how this all works out.

From the interviews with Holmoe this week, he sounded like BYU didn't care about joining another conference. that Ind is somewhat of an ends instead of a means.

Of course, he was probably just playing it safe. If it gets out that BYU desperately wants to join a big conference and they don't/cannot, then they'll really look bad. And this independence thing doesn't look so great.

But if they give off the vibe that ind. was/is exactly what they want, then they don't look too bad (at least, for a while) if they stay independent and wait patiently for the right opportunity to move into a BCS conference.

Realistically, BYU has only 1 BCS conference that might be interested. I think we all understand that the PAC 12 won't ever be interested. And the Big 10 won't either. The Big East, ACC, and SEC don't make any sense for BYU. So it's either the Big 12 or nothing.

When BYU said they weren't interested in the Big 12, I suspect that was only because they did not expect an invitation. If the Big 12 actually invited BYU they would almost certainly accept.

And, to be honest, that invitation may very well be on the horizon. If A&M leaves, I would have to think BYU is on the short list of possible replacements. I would think TCU is probably the #1 choice, but not sure if they dog the Big East like that.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Salty Wrote:

And, to be honest, that invitation may very well be on the horizon. If A&M leaves, I would have to think BYU is on the short list of possible replacements. I would think TCU is probably the #1 choice, but not sure if they dog the Big East like that.

I don't think TCU will ever be invited to the Big 12 as long as Texas is still a member. Bottom line: TCU doesn't deliver any extra TV sets to the Big 12. None of the Big 12 schools want to elevate TCU to Big 12 status, thus having a harder time recruiting against them when the addition does absolutely nothing in regards to expanded footprint. Texas already delivers all of the TV sets in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and most of Texas for that matter.

I still think that we'll eventually see A&M to the SEC, and Texas and Oklahoma bolt to the Pac12 as the 16 team superconferences start to become a reality. That's a horrible scenario for BYU because I don't see any landing spot for them in a world where the PAC,ACC, Big 10 and SEC are the 4 major conferences. For the record, I'd like to see the Big 12 stay intact and BYU invited to join. Living in the wasatch front with Pac12 and Big12 football going on would be a dream come true for any football fan.

Utah would also become the only in state the west that could stake claim to having 2 different BCS conference affiliations within the state. That would be pretty big IMO.

 

[bigb]

I do think BYU ends up in the Big 12 eventually. Either A&M stays and they expand in a couple years, or they go and bring in BYU. I don't think the end game of BYU is to stay independent indefinitely. They may be saying that, but if the Big 12 offers an invite anytime in the next few years, they will jump.

 

[Scat]

No, my argument is that Utah is better than USC, and even the national media is saying Utah is in the consensus top 2 picks to represent the PAC 12 South in the championship game.

Basically, my argument is that Sports Illustrated's prediction was not far fetched. The rest of the national media has the Utes pretty close to where Sports Illustrated has them.

The Utes are not even in the pre-season top 25. How can they be picked to win the PAC-12 South yet not even be in the top 25 even if it is just pre-season you ask?

Either the "experts" think the PAC-12 is going to blow chunks this year or they are clueless. Salty seems to place a high value on the "experts" opinion so we'll have to go with blow chunks. Congrats, your team is predicted to be 2nd in a conference that will blow chunks.

 

[SaltyDawg]

The Utes are not even in the pre-season top 25. How can they be picked to win the PAC-12 South yet not even be in the top 25 even if it is just pre-season you ask?

Either the "experts" think the PAC-12 is going to blow chunks this year or they are clueless. Salty seems to place a high value on the "experts" opinion so we'll have to go with blow chunks. Congrats, your team is predicted to be 2nd in a conference that will blow chunks.

And congrats to you too. Your team is below the Utes in the preseason top 25, and not even in a conference to have a prayer of winning it.

Just remember, blowing chunks in your opinion or not, the Pac 12 champ goes to the Rose Bowl. And maybe even the national championship, with the second place Pac 12 team going to the Rose Bowl. Yeah, that really blows chunks. Actually, it only blows chunks if you're a BYU fan.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Salty Wrote:



I don't think TCU will ever be invited to the Big 12 as long as Texas is still a member. Bottom line: TCU doesn't deliver any extra TV sets to the Big 12. None of the Big 12 schools want to elevate TCU to Big 12 status, thus having a harder time recruiting against them when the addition does absolutely nothing in regards to expanded footprint. Texas already delivers all of the TV sets in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and most of Texas for that matter.

I still think that we'll eventually see A&M to the SEC, and Texas and Oklahoma bolt to the Pac12 as the 16 team superconferences start to become a reality. That's a horrible scenario for BYU because I don't see any landing spot for them in a world where the PAC,ACC, Big 10 and SEC are the 4 major conferences. For the record, I'd like to see the Big 12 stay intact and BYU invited to join. Living in the wasatch front with Pac12 and Big12 football going on would be a dream come true for any football fan.

Utah would also become the only in state the west that could stake claim to having 2 different BCS conference affiliations within the state. That would be pretty big IMO.

I think you put way too much stock into the "tv markets" thing. If that was as big of a deal as you say, then they wouldn't care at all if A&M leaves because Texas and Tech already have that market sewn up anyway.

Remember, TCU used to be in the same conference as these guys and have some history with them.

Larry Scott was recently quoted as saying Texas could not be in the Pac 12 with their own tv station, so I think you can rule them out. Teh Big 12 is on the verge of breaking up because of the greed and arrogance of Texas, no way would the Pac 12 put up with it. I know they were on the Pac 12 radar before, but it was also made clear to them that that wouldn't fly in the Pac 12 (which supposedly played a part in them deciding to stay in the Big 12).

I think if Texas does leave the Big 12, it will be to join the Big 10. I don't see them joining the Pac 12.

Another team that could possibly be on the Big 12's radar that nobody is talking about: Boise State. If Texas A&M leaves the Big 12, don't be shocked if Boise State gets invited.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I think you put way too much stock into the "tv markets" thing. If that was as big of a deal as you say, then they wouldn't care at all if A&M leaves because Texas and Tech already have that market sewn up anyway.

Remember, TCU used to be in the same conference as these guys and have some history with them.

Larry Scott was recently quoted as saying Texas could not be in the Pac 12 with their own tv station, so I think you can rule them out. Teh Big 12 is on the verge of breaking up because of the greed and arrogance of Texas, no way would the Pac 12 put up with it. I know they were on the Pac 12 radar before, but it was also made clear to them that that wouldn't fly in the Pac 12 (which supposedly played a part in them deciding to stay in the Big 12).

I think if Texas does leave the Big 12, it will be to join the Big 10. I don't see them joining the Pac 12.

Another team that could possibly be on the Big 12's radar that nobody is talking about: Boise State. If Texas A&M leaves the Big 12, don't be shocked if Boise State gets invited.

Are you kidding? Conference expansion is almost always about getting more TV sets into your conference. Sorry friend, but TCU to the Big 12 just ain't happening. Ask yourself this: If you're all the Big 12 schools, why invite a school to the party that brings in ZERO extra TV cash and only makes it harder to fight for in-state recruits? This is not just my opinion, these are the exact reasons that the Big 12 has never looked TCU's way. That's probably not going to change.

 

[//r00t 4 Jazz]

Two things, first besides concerns over Wynn I'm also concerned about the O-Line, normally the U has a good line but with injuries I've heard and read it may not be as strong as usual. So if Wynn's issues weren't due to injuries last year that only compounds the issue, of course I'm hoping for the best but still a little worried.

Second I also heard on the radio that TCU wouldn't leave the Big East anyway but they could be on the top of the list other then the fact other school's may not want to have to compete recruiting against them. (radio also mentioned similar issues with why some schools like FSU aren't being brought up to join the SEC not TV money but recruiting battles)