SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - It's definitely the biggest game of the year in the Mountain West Conference, so far anyway, and in fact is one of the top two games in the country this weekend.
TCU is #4 in the BCS standings, hosting #16 Utah Saturday night, and for the third time in the last four weeks, ESPN's "College Gameday" will be broadcasting from a Mountain West school.
The Utes have won three straight against the Horned Frogs, including last year's thrilling 13-10 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but TCU has looked invincible so far in 2009.
"It'll be the biggest game of the year, on 'College Gameday,' exciting atmosphere, and I think we'll come out ready to play," stated Utah sophomore cornerback Brandon Burton. Coach Kyle Whittingham added, "This one has more implications as far as first place so we're gonna need to play well because they're a very, very good football team."
So good in fact that the Las Vegas oddsmakers have TCU favored by 17 points. "I'm sure we'll discuss that as a team," Whittingham remarked, "but they deserve the respect they're getting. I think it'll rile our guys up a little bit, but we'll see."
"It is motivation," said freshman running back Sausan Shakarin, "No one wants to be an underdog."
Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m., MST, 6:30 in Fort Worth.
