So much of bowl games is about the team that is motivated. Utah fit that mold in the Sugar Bowl, much to the chagrin of Alabama.
The Utes finished off an unbeaten season with a 31-17 win over Alabama.
Utah took control of the game with 21 points in the first quarter. Quarterback Brian Johnson was outstanding. From the opening series he carved up the Alabama secondary with quick passes.
Bama got back in the game by pressuring Johnson with more blitzes. Javier Arenas also returned a punt 73 yards for a second quarter Bama touchdown.
The difference in this game was this: Utah was able to get out front early, forcing a change in the Bama game plan. Alabama is not a passing team. The Tide is a running team that relies on play action passing from quarterback John Parker Wilson.
Wilson played poorly. He missed a wide open Nakita Stover by 5 yards on what would have been a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
After watching the game, I can say that Utah was better than I thought and Alabama was not as good. Tide head coach Nick Saban and his staff "maxed out" this Alabama team with 12 wins this season.