The Utes are only a couple of bounces/calls away from having lost the last three straight. Didn't watch the Oregon St. game, but I know that in the UCLA game there was a horrible no call when the Utes kicked an onsides kick in the first quarter. Phillips CLEARLY grabbed the ball before it made it ten yards, but they gave it to Utah anyways. They aren't blowing the doors off their opponents, they're winning by a handful of points. For the past several games (maybe 4, IDK) they've only scored one offensive touchdown per game.

On the other hand, a couple of good bounces and BYU isn't on a three game losing streak. Specifically, the fourth quarter onsides kick was nearly perfect and Matthews was in the perfect position to recover it, but the ball took a bad bounce. The UCF overtime loss was sealed by a horrible no call on defensive holding. Take away one poor-technique tackle on Taysom in the USU game, and most agree that the game would have come out completely differently. Then there was that ball swatted by Kaufusi that the USU receiver somehow came up with... I'm sure there are dozens of others.

I don't like to play the "if only" game, but I've wondered if those people claiming the sky is falling pay attention to any stats beyond the W/L column. If anyone paid attention to the stats or to the games, I think they would have to admit that BYU has suffered from some unlucky bounces and that Utah really isn't a top-of-the-PAC team like they want to claim they are, that they've benefited from a LOT of lucky bounces.

There are legitimate criticisms to be made about BYU, and definite positives to Utah's season so far, but it isn't the black and white BYU being in the sewer and Utah being at the pinnacle of success that the sky is falling crowd keeps peddling here on CB.

/rant.