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"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Winston Churchill

OK, that's a little too profound for a column on Utah football. Winny wasn't a college coach, but … he could have been. There's both room and reasons for his kind of optimism around here now, as it pertains to the Utes. They seem better, look better, than what we had imagined or expected a few short weeks ago. And, just as important, their circumstances are, too.

The newfound promise isn't centered so much on the numerical results they've had thus far, Utah winning its first two games by the combined score of 115-41. There's no great honor in having given Idaho State and Fresno State the equivalent of an atomic wedgie. Those are two awful teams that any self-respecting D-I program would have crushed.

And, now, with the Utes facing dumpy Michigan — a team Notre Dame throttled 31-zip, an outfit that has gone 4-7 over its last 11 games — at the Big House on Saturday and Washington State the following week at Rice-Eccles, it's a good bet Utah will be, at least could be, 4-0 to start the season — albeit against compromised competition.

Playing at Michigan Stadium isn't any kind of big deal for Utah, the Utes having already beaten the Maize and Blue on its home field a few years back. Michigan, on Saturday, did manage to beat Miami (Ohio), an opponent that hasn't won a game since 2012.

So much of Ute positivity, though, stems more from what's plain to see on the field, regardless of whom they're playing against. Utah, for instance, has speed at its skill positions, and that speed is evident whether the Utes are playing a champ or a chump. Guys like Kaelin Clay and Troy McCormick can flat move. Dres Anderson is a top Pac-12 receiver. Kenneth Scott is a major upgrade. Devontae Booker is emerging as a quality running back and Bubba Poole isn't much of a drop-off.

And Utah looks consistent, healthy — and deep — at quarterback. When was the last time anybody strung those words into the same sentence without laughing out loud? Travis Wilson threw five touchdown passes against Fresno. It wasn't so much the stats as much as it was the way he made his reads and executed his throws. Backup Kendal Thompson is a dual-threat guy whose development here will be compelling to watch.

Utah's defense appears rock-steady, led by Nate Orchard and bolstered now by the return of linebacker Gionni Paul. Against Fresno, 11 different Utes combined for 13 TFLs. It will now go up against a Wolverine offense that was eclipsed and embarrassed by Notre Dame.

Optimism to the left of me. Sunshine to the right.

A bucket of each is being filled for another reason: the schedule. Wait, what? Turns out, that brutal run through the Pac-12 might not be what we thought it would, might not be as formidable.

Check out the Pac-12 South: USC looked horrible against Boston College, completely unable to stop the run. The Eagles put 452 rushing yards on the Trojans, while the Trojans got only 20 yards back on the ground. UCLA struggled against Texas, a team BYU dump-trucked. Arizona edged Nevada. Arizona State got by Colorado, but lost quarterback Taylor Kelly to an injured foot for a couple of weeks.

Other opponents: Washington State is … well, Washington State. Same with Colorado. Oregon State managed to beat Portland State and Hawaii. Stanford blew its own toes off against USC week before last, suffering inconsistency on offense.

Oregon? Dude. Even Churchill couldn't find much optimism against Marcus Mariota and the Ducks. The game will be played here and that's about the beginning and end of that.

But this Saturday, the Utes should be able to keep their good vibe going.

Wilson will have to be protected since Big Blue's defensive strength is up front. But if he is, he should be able to pick apart a Michigan secondary that isn't experienced, isn't good. Nothing about the Wolverine offense has been overly impressive thus far.

Optimism.

It is healthy, somebody once said. Optimists live longer than pessimists. I always thought people who never looked at the negative, never even acknowledged it, were more than a little nutty. They were scary nutty.

Things could still go bad for Utah. The wheels could still spin off.

But if you want reasons for optimism, reasons to hope for a winning season, reasons to live longer, you've got them.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on 97.5 FM/1280 and 960 AM The Zone. Twitter: @GordonMonson. —

Utah at Michigan

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

TV: Ch. 4 or ESPN2