We're trying something new this week. No more Lucky. After nearly three seasons, I think it's the right time to finally retire him. Let's just say, after the TCU game, the luck ran out. It's fitting the first game without him comes against the Aztecs, because back in 2007, Lucky made his first appearance against San Diego State. 

It's been fun, Luck. 

Now let's get back on the right track and win the ninth game of the season. 

Let's hear what you think. Register for a free account here and leave your comments, predictions and other game day chatter below in the comment section. GO UTES! BEAT THE AZTECS!

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

Wait...we still suck? Damn.

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I want to know. That isn't the problem. It's just that they haven't made enough noise this season to warrant me caring. They're not especially bad like New Mexico. They didn't start the season 3-0 and then collapse into a seven-game losing streak like CSU. They're not laughably and historically bad like UNLV and they're not quite on the cusp like Wyoming. 

They are the quintessential mediocre team. The one no one really gives a damn about. And I'm not trying to disrespect their program, but it generally seems they've done just about as much as was expected and nothing more. 

Which means I don't exactly know if I should be concerned about Saturday or indifferent to Utah's next opponent. But I'll concede that isn't entirely the Aztecs' fault. They just happen to be sandwiched between an extremely tough loss and the Holy War - not the type of game that revs up the excitement level. At least for me. Though maybe you're finding it a bit easier to get pumped for Saturday.

So, let's get to know these San Diego State Aztecs.

Are they good?

No. The Aztecs aren't good. They haven't been good or relevant in football since the Mountain West formed. It's the most head-scratchingly bad program in college football because it's freaking SAN DIEGO. 

via www.airportcommuter.com

That's San Diego, folks. WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LOVE? Seriously! It's got beaches, women and it's a short drive to Mexico. Granted, we're talking about the scuzzy scary Mexico where people end up missing after a night of drinking and debauchery - surely sold into the drug trade for 50-cents worth of gum. But still. It's Mexico. Who hasn't wanted to venture off the beaten path? Especially if you're in college.

And that's what San Diego State is, right? A place for students to get educated. Plus, it isn't like it's that hard to get into, anyway. At least that's what the Simpsons tell me and God knows I get all my worldly knowledge from that show. 

Lisa, you made this school even worse. And it wasn't exactly San Diego State to begin with

You know you've made it when The Simpsons actually mentions your school in an episode. I mean, who cares if it isn't entirely in good light. It's the freakin' Simpsons! 

Of course, we're still trying to figure out why the Aztecs aren't very good. I'm not going to suggest they should be better this year than they are because they've gone under a complete overhaul with the firing of Chuck Long and the hiring of Brady Hoke. But you kind of get the feeling even Brady Hoke isn't going to turn that program into the winner most expect and again, those struggles might be the most baffling thing this side of realizing Sarah Palin can actually write.

What have they done this season?

Not much. In fact, there hasn't been one impressive victory yet. Sure, they've won four games - but look at who they've defeated: Southern Utah, New Mexico State, Colorado State and New Mexico. Not exactly Murderers' Row, right? I think the Hardy Boys faced tougher obstacles in their books than the Aztecs in every one of their four wins. 

In each game that actually meant something - you know, like last week's showdown at home with Wyoming - they've lost. There was that 33-14 setback to a pretty bad UCLA team and a 34-20 blowout to Idaho (c'mon, I still can't take the Vandals seriously). They did give Air Force and BYU a scare, but that was earlier in the season when the games actually seemed fairly important. Since barely knocking off the 0-10 Lobos (haha, BYU almost lost to them), they were slaughtered by TCU (no comment there...we all know what that feels like) and then lost a must-win against the Cowboys (it isn't like Wyoming is all that great, either). 

That means their best win might be their 34-17 victory over the 3-7 New Mexico State Aggies. When your best win is against a team that is the tops in its state only by default because the other decided to see how going winless would feel, you've got problems. 

That isn't to say four wins isn't an improvement on last year's two. It is. But really, are they that much better? Baby steps, I guess. 

Can they beat the Utes?

I guess it's possible. Last week proved anything was possible with how close New Mexico came to knocking off BYU (haha) before they reverted to their pathetic selves in the final minute and pissed the game away. But I guess the better question should be: will they beat the Utes and I think that's easily answered with a NO. 

That's not me being cocky, I mean hell, I was pretty humbled after having the audacity to suggest Utah could give TCU a game (foolish me), but yeesh! It's San Diego State! This team is done. They've emotionally checked out. Yeah, they might have a mathematical possibility of receiving a bowl berth, but that's like saying the Utes aren't mathematically eliminated from the the conference title race. We all know, in the end, it just ain't going to happen. 

If it was going to happen, they would've knocked off Wyoming last week for their fifth win and now they must win out and with their final two games coming on the road, it's likely they finish the year 4-8. Though I guess you could give them their final game (it comes against the equally bad Rebels, who, like SDSU, has sucked since the Mountain West's inception). But even that might be a bit generous. 

Ultimately, after writing this article, I still don't have a clue who the Aztecs are. I mean, I know them. But I don't know them. You feel me? 

Whoever they are, let's just hope it's not a team capable of pulling off a stunner this weekend. I don't know what I'd due if the Utes failed to beat a team that owns zero wins over any program sniffing .500 football.

I didn't get week ten out because I was too focused on that TCU. Now I'm kinda wishing I didn't invest so much into it because the fall wasn't all that great. 

But whatever. New week. New rankings. 

As for the conference, it now belongs to TCU. I don't see any way they even share the title and losing it seems pretty impossible at this point. So, it's about the BCS and maybe, maybe the national championship (a very slim maybe). 

Team of the Week: TCU. They hammered Utah in the biggest game in Mountain West history. It's probably the most impressive conference win in the history of the league too. That was their last hurdle standing between them and the BCS and they easily cleared it.

Team of the Weak: Utah. Ouuuuch.

The rankings after the jump...

Week Eleven Rankings
Rank	Team	Comments
1		The Frogs are in a league of their own. These rankings really don't do the gap between #1 and #2 justice. It's as wide as the Grand Canyon. It's bigger than the deficit. It's as vast as the universe. You get the idea.
2		The Utes are here because A) their loss was mathematically better than BYU's was against TCU and B) BYU barely beat New Mexico. Plus, I still think the Utes are the better team. And I'm a Utah fan and I hate BYU.
3		I got a lot of flack for putting Air Force here two weeks ago. I'll change that up, even though the Falcons did have a more impressive victory this week. BYU's win, though, wasn't good. They nearly lost to the Lobos and had that happened, it probably would've been the most embarrassing defeat in program history.
4		The Falcons have quietly put together a pretty good season. They're 7-4 on the season and last week rolled UNLV. This week is a bit more difficult, though, as they take on BYU. A win there would certainly justify my week nine rankings, eh?
5		The Cowboys only need one win to secure a bowl berth. That isn't happening this week, even though they do host TCU. Maybe they can get it against Colorado State in week twelve.
6		This is where it all really begins to fall apart for the Mountain West. The remainder of these teams are not good. They're horrible, in fact. The Aztecs at the least-horrible of the bottom four, however. Yet it's hard to overlook their big loss to the Cowboys last week. With a potential bowl berth on the line, they coughed up the game at home and now - unless they can stun the Utes this weekend - look destined for no better than a 5-7 season.
7		Mike Sanford is gone and the Rebel program has found its way back toward the bottom of the conference. All is right in the world again.
8		They lost to UNLV, lol! After taking last week off, they look to snap their seven-game losing streak. For the Lobos, it offers them their best chance to end their winless streak.
9

Yes?

More photos » by Steve Griffin - AP

2 days ago: Utah State's Nate Bendall, left, and Utah's Jordan Cyphers chase after the ball during their game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Griffin - The Salt Lake Tribune)

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How crazy is that? The Utes actually won a game! And against a good team! We're 1-1! Yes! AND IT WAS AGAINST A RIVAL.

Seriously, folks. I am not making this up. Check out the box score. It's real. 

Really, though, the Utes actually put up a somewhat decent effort against a team that will probably finish with a better record. It's not entirely a shock because Utah has pretty much owned the Aggies as of late in Salt Lake. But still, it feels nice to win.

The man of the hour is Carlon Brown, who finished with a game-high 22-points. Brown I think will improve the most out of the players who saw time last year. He has the potential to be really good.

But I was most impressed with the defense. Last week the Utes nearly allowed Idaho to drop 100 on them and this time around, they held the Aggies to only  67 points. Not bad, eh? 

Beyond all that, though, this team is probably going to be up and down all year. It's hard to really take too much from one win, but hopefully they can build on this and create enough buzz and momentum to ride into conference play with a rather respectable record. If that happens, who the hell knows what's in store once Mountain West play rolls around.

Basketball! 

Who's still not excited? Yeah, I kinda know the feeling. Hard to imagine there would be so much apathy toward Utah basketball ten years ago. Yet that seems to be the case. It's even more appalling when you realize the Runnin' Utes are taking on an in-state rival who's given us some memorable games over the years.

But that's exactly what we're facing tonight. It's something that has been building for a few years now and even though Utah played extremely well last year, there seems to be a Giacoletti hangover still pounding away at the program today. I mean, God bless Jim Boylen for trying to inject some energy into a lifeless fan base, but even that doesn't seem to be doing much of anything. Of course, it doesn't help when the team loses to Idaho. 

Anyway, enough ranting about that. Tonight is a big night for the Utah basketball team. It always is when they play the Aggies. Especially since last year's game ended pretty painfully for the Utes. But with how the team struggled last week, I'm not sure what to expect from them this week. 

Especially since Utah State appears to be a good team. They were picked to repeat as WAC champions and even though their lone win was close, this is a team capable of beating Utah. If the Utes play as poorly on the defensive end tonight as they did in their opener, it probably means they will. 

Though it's hard getting into the basketball mood, I hope those who live in the Salt Lake Valley at least make a trip up to the Huntsman Center to watch tonight's game. Tipoff is at 6:00, so get there plenty early and cheer loud - because I expect USU fans to do the same.