FanHouse DavidAndGoliath

Well there's your bowl shocker! Utah took SEC runner-up Alabama to the woodshed from the word go, running up a 21-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 31-17 Sugar Bowl victory in the belly of the SEC beast, New Orleans. In so doing, Utah finishes its season undefeated, 13-0, unblemished and mighty proud.

Oh, and they've shocked the entire college football world. A heartfelt congratulation. Not many programs can claim to have a pair of BCS bowl victories. Utah can, and has done so against two excellent programs -- Pitt and Alabama.

Wow.

Almost a year ago to the week, Stanford toppled USC in one of the most ridiculous upsets in college football history. Staring down a ticked off Pete Carroll, the Coliseum crowd, a 41-point underdog status with gamblers and working with a backup quarterback who had only attempted a handful of passes, Stanford did the impossible: 24-23.

I get heartburn writing about it. The darn event even has its own Wikipedia page.

So it gives me no great pleasure to be reminded that USC is once again massive favorites -- 42 to 43 points at last check -- to possibly an even worse Pac-10 foe, this year's Washington State Cougars. How bad is Washington State? The Cougars have already surrendered 60-plus points to opponents three times this season (66 to California, 63 to Oregon and 66 to Oregon State). College football doormat Baylor pasted them 45-17. UCLA's pathetic offense managed to beat then 28-3. Just terrible all around.

Not unlike Stanford last year.