The Utes play New Mexico and their high-powered, high-pressure, sack-the-quarterback 3-3-5 defense that head coach Rocky Long has been running for the past 15 years.

Who has the edge in the upcoming game between the Utah Utes and the New Mexico Lobos?

Whittingham cannot underplay the importance of this game on the road. New Mexico historically gives the Utes fits. Throughout the history of the match-up, Utah either wins by a lot or loses close games. If the game stays close through three quarters, the Lobos and their fans will smell the wafting scent of an upset.

This weekend, the undefeated Utes head to Albuquerque, N.M., to take on the 4-5 New Mexico Lobos for their ninth game of the season. Historically, the Lobos have played the role of a black cat on Halloween night for Utah8212;just plain old bad luck.

The recurring themes of turnovers and penalties that hampered the Utes have started to slowly, but surely, fade away into oblivion and respectability.

It certainly seems longer than four years ago when the Utah was ranked this high, but entering its 10th week of the 2008 college football season, Utah is the No. 10 team in the nation.

Kyle Whittingham's bunch have gone from unranked to kick-off the season to cracking the top 10 at No. 10 after nine weeks of college football in the books.

This bye week, while stalling a lavishly impressive start to the season, gives the Utes the opportunity to gather up two important things8212;rest and psych.

Now that BYU has fallen out of the spotlight as the Bowl Championship Series-busting Cinderellas, Whittingham's Utes have taken the Cougars' place and are now at the forefront of the BCS discussion.

Utah might not know the taste of defeat this season, but three-year starting quarterback Brian Johnson has had plenty of experience with it in the past--so much so that Johnson knows what it's like for his team to lose to every single team in the Mountain West Conference.