Utah Game Divination

This game always brings a lot of emotion and intensity to the field and to the stands.  I hope things will be under control for the Cougars home opener both on and off the field as I make the trek down to L.E.S. for another edition of THE RIVALRY GAME.  This will be the 9th rivalry game I have attended (other games include 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009).  The Cougars are 4-4 in the those games with an average score of BYU 33 Utah 28.  This past week I spent a little time calculating all the BYU games I have attended in person.  The game on Saturday night between BYU and Utah will be Cougar game # 112 I have personally attended.  While the overwhelming majority have occured in Provo (this will be #105 in Provo), I have seen the Cougars play from sea to shining sea - both of those games happened to be losses (1990 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, CA in an awful loss to Texas A&M; 2006 in Chesnut Hill, MA in an overtime loss to Boston College).  I will post another blog next week with a full breakdown of winning percentage in games I have attended both home and away for the Cougars.  However, in anticipation of the game Saturday night I plan on the Cougars riding their current 7-game home winning streak in games I have attended (last loss coming to TCU in 2009, as I didn't attend last year's Nevada home game) to another victory.  The key will be the running game.  The team which has rushed for more yards in this annual matchup has usually come out on top - including last year's game which the Cougars only rushed for 65 yards compared to Utah's 89.  In fact the team which has rushed for more yards is 17-4 over the past 21 games (81% winning percentage).  So far this year that stat has held true - BYU out gained Ole Miss, but got out rushed by Texas.  If the Cougars expect to win they must control the line of scrimmage and score touchdowns!  Field goals (as shown by last week's game against Texas and last year's game against Utah) don't put opponents away - especially when all you can manage is field goals and the other team is able to hang around.  Both my brother and my dad expect one of the team's offenses to get going Saturday night, which seems a reasonable enough guess, however, history tells me that this game is usually a hard-fought, nail-biter and I would have to predict nothing less (although I would love a high powered Cougar offensive showcase).

BYU 22 Utah 20