Excuse Darrell Mack for taking the company line, but he really does believe his Utah football team has the best chance among Mountain West Conference teams to break into the Bowl Championship Series lineup.
The senior running back puts the 20th-ranked Utes above other MWC contenders Brigham Young, which is ranked No. 14, and Texas Christian, which is receiving votes in the poll, to have the record and rank high enough at the end of the season to gain a spot in a major bowl game.
“I play for Utah, so I’m going to say we have the best chance,” said Mack, whose Utes (3-0, 1-0 MWC) play Saturday at Air Force (3-0, 1-0). “I have respect for the other teams, but I really do think we have the best team to do it.”
Mack has done his share of the work the past two seasons to keep Utah in the upper echelon of the conference and in national prominence.
The 6-foot, 220-pound senior was a workhorse last year as Utah went 9-4, including a 35-32 bowl-game victory over Navy in San Diego.
Mack was slated to redshirt, but after an injury to another running back, he became the Utes’ leading rusher with 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“I need the blocking to do what I do, and the credit goes to the offensive line,” he said.
This season, Mack is sharing the duties with junior Matt Asiata, who suffered a broken leg in the 2007 season opener.
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Mack said. “It gives both of us a chance to catch our breath. Everybody wants the ball when they play, but we have other jobs on the field. We have to block, too.”
Mack and Asiata each has 35 carries, with Asiata gaining 167 yards and scoring four touchdowns and Mack at 160 yards and no touchdowns. They also can catch passes out of the backfield, Asiata catching five for 70 yards and Mack three for 29 yards.
“These guys are loaded,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of the Utes. “The offense is outstanding with the two running backs.”
Mack credits quarterback Brian Johnson’s passing for the perfect balance to the offense. Johnson is 58-for-88 passing for 692 yards, five touchdowns (and another rushing) with three interceptions.
Mack has played against the Falcons twice, rushing for 25 yards on seven carries in last year’s 20-12 Utes loss in Salt Lake City and 2 yards on three carries in 2006 in a 17-14 Utes victory at Air Force.
“I think this year’s team as well as last year’s team are the best teams I’ve played on here at Utah,” Mack said.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
