I've already written my opening-game predictions on this page. This entry is about specific things I believe will happen on Saturday as BYU tangles with UNI to open a promising 2008 campaign.
Here's five things that'll happen between 4 and 7:30 p.m. MDT Saturday.
1. Vic So'oto will have a sack, but will also miss an assignment that leads to a long play by Northern Iowa.
2. O'Neil Chambers will mishandle and drop one kickoff and/or fumble the ball on a return. Greg Wrubell has warned us about how Chambers catches the ball up around the face mask. Chambers may fulfill his guarantee of a kickoff/punt return for a TD this fall, and he'll have one great return Saturday. But he'll also commit a key miscue.
3. Austin Collie will take five snaps at QB. He'll run four times and throw once with some success.
4. BYU will lose one offensive lineman for the game, but not the season-ending variety of injury.
5. UNI quarterback Pat Grace will have more success running than he does throwing. RB Corey Lewis will run for 80-90 yards and one score as UNI reaches double-figure scoring.
Most importantly, BYU wins the game. Today I'll say 42-17.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Game 1: BYU-UNI prediction
Game week is here. The opener is usually the most-anticipated game of the season. With it being Northern Iowa this year, that takes a little off the first-game luster and has folks looking ahead to Washington and UCLA. But UNI is good. At today's media luncheon, linebacker David Nixon called Panthers running back Corey Lewis the best RB the Cougars will face this season. He also praised receiver Johnny Gray. Both are preseason All-Americans in the Football Championship Subdivision.
While Bronco Mendenhall compares UNI to Eastern Washington, a team BYU beat 42-7 last year, it's important to remember that EWU trailed just 14-7 late in the first half. UNI is better than EWU and will hang around for much of the opening half. But not for the whole game.
Here's how I see the game going, with a quarter-by-quarter scoring breakdown.
End of first quarter
BYU 10, UNI 7.
Cougars score early and add a Mitch Payne field goal. But a defensive miscue lets Gray get free for a score.
End of first half
BYU 24,UNI 7
Cougars start to take control with balanced offense. Defense settles in. 14-0 edge for Cougs in quarter No. 2.
End of third quarter
BYU 34, UNI 10
Panthers add a field goal, but Cougars score 10 more.
Final score
BYU 41, UNI 17
Lewis breaks off big run for Panthers' second TD. Cougs win big in opener.
I played the game out video-game style today and BYU won 49-21. Max Hall went 13-for-25 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis scored all three of UNI's TDs, ripping off some long runs. But BYU ran well with Unga and, other than some surprising picks thrown by Hall, controlled the game. It was tied 14-14 at one point, though.
Here's to Saturday. 4 p.m. The Mtn. (channel 616 on DirecTV).
While Bronco Mendenhall compares UNI to Eastern Washington, a team BYU beat 42-7 last year, it's important to remember that EWU trailed just 14-7 late in the first half. UNI is better than EWU and will hang around for much of the opening half. But not for the whole game.
Here's how I see the game going, with a quarter-by-quarter scoring breakdown.
End of first quarter
BYU 10, UNI 7.
Cougars score early and add a Mitch Payne field goal. But a defensive miscue lets Gray get free for a score.
End of first half
BYU 24,UNI 7
Cougars start to take control with balanced offense. Defense settles in. 14-0 edge for Cougs in quarter No. 2.
End of third quarter
BYU 34, UNI 10
Panthers add a field goal, but Cougars score 10 more.
Final score
BYU 41, UNI 17
Lewis breaks off big run for Panthers' second TD. Cougs win big in opener.
I played the game out video-game style today and BYU won 49-21. Max Hall went 13-for-25 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis scored all three of UNI's TDs, ripping off some long runs. But BYU ran well with Unga and, other than some surprising picks thrown by Hall, controlled the game. It was tied 14-14 at one point, though.
Here's to Saturday. 4 p.m. The Mtn. (channel 616 on DirecTV).
Sunday, August 17, 2008
This'll get you pumped
Every year, right about late May or early June, I get whipped into a Cougar football frenzy. Just when a think I can't wait any longer, fall camp begins. And that's great for a week or so, but somewhere during Week 2 of fall camp, the itch for camp to end and the season to begin reaches unbearable levels.
Then came this exchange between Bronco Mendenhall and the media after Saturday's second fall camp scrimmage. If this doesn't get you pumped for Aug. 30, nothing will.
Greg Wrubell: "If you were a defensive coordinator lining up against (Dennis) Pitta and (Andrew) George week to week, your thoughts?"
Bronco: "Depends on if Harvey (Unga's) in the game or not. And if Harvey's in the game, you'll have problems."
Wrubell: "And you'll have Harvey in games."
Bronco: "Exactly right. So I think people are going to have problems."
Holy buckets. BYU's offense is going to be good. Scary good. Hearing this exchange sent me back to my the 2007 Cougar Diary highlight DVD. Then I put up my BYU flag outside my home (a tradition on Game Day) just to get a look at it. Then I got my kids pumped and educated for Aug. 30.
Less than two weeks to go. BYU. Northern Iowa. Lavell Edwards Stadium. It all begins. Our Quest shirts have arrived. DirecTV's been installed. It's go time.
I, for one, can't wait.
Then came this exchange between Bronco Mendenhall and the media after Saturday's second fall camp scrimmage. If this doesn't get you pumped for Aug. 30, nothing will.
Greg Wrubell: "If you were a defensive coordinator lining up against (Dennis) Pitta and (Andrew) George week to week, your thoughts?"
Bronco: "Depends on if Harvey (Unga's) in the game or not. And if Harvey's in the game, you'll have problems."
Wrubell: "And you'll have Harvey in games."
Bronco: "Exactly right. So I think people are going to have problems."
Holy buckets. BYU's offense is going to be good. Scary good. Hearing this exchange sent me back to my the 2007 Cougar Diary highlight DVD. Then I put up my BYU flag outside my home (a tradition on Game Day) just to get a look at it. Then I got my kids pumped and educated for Aug. 30.
Less than two weeks to go. BYU. Northern Iowa. Lavell Edwards Stadium. It all begins. Our Quest shirts have arrived. DirecTV's been installed. It's go time.
I, for one, can't wait.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Foes could be friends for Cougars
Two main factors will decide whether BYU plays in a big-money BCS bowl game this winter. First and foremost is how the Cougars themselves play. But second, is how their opponents fare against other teams. BYU ascension in the polls could be affected by the successes or failures of the teams on their 2008 slate.
Here's how The Cougar Zone sees BYU's opponents faring this season. By season's end, we'll be sure to hear about how the Cougars' two wins over Pac-10 teams don't mean much since both teams have losing records. Hopefully, BYU is firmly in the Top 10 by then and can prove itself in a BCS game.
Northern Iowa (10-2)
Wins: South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Nicholls State, Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Utah
Losses: BYU, North Dakota State
Washington (5-7)
Wins: Stanford, Oregon State, Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington State
Losses: Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, California
UCLA (5-7)
Wins: Arizona, Fresno State, Washington State, Stanford, Oregon State
Losses: Tennessee, BYU, Oregon, California, Washington, Arizona State, USC
Wyoming (7-5)
Wins: Ohio, Air Force, North Dakota State, Bowling Green, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State
Losses: BYU, New Mexico, Utah, TCU, Tennessee
Utah State (3-9)
Wins: Idaho, San Jose State, New Mexico State
Losses: UNLV, Oregon, Utah, BYU, Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, Boise State, Louisiana Tech
New Mexico (7-5)
Wins: Texas A&M, New Mexico State, Wyoming, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State, Utah
Losses: TCU, Arizona, Tulsa, BYU, Air Force
TCU (9-3)
Wins: New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin, Stanford, SMU, San Diego State, Colorado State, Wyoming, UNLV, Air Force
Losses: Oklahoma, BYU, Utah
UNLV (4-8)
Wins: Utah State, Iowa State, Colorado State, San Diego State
Losses: Utah, Arizona State, Nevada, Air Force, BYU, TCU, New Mexico, Wyoming
Colorado State (2-10)
Wins: Sacramento State, San Diego State
Losses: Colorado, Houston, California, UNLV, TCU, Utah, BYU, New Mexico, Wyoming, Air Force
San Diego State (4-8)
Wins: Cal Poly, San Jose State, Idaho, Air Force
Losses: Notre Dame, TCU, New Mexico, Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Utah, UNLV
Air Force (5-7)
Wins: Southern Utah, Navy, UNLV, Army, Colorado State
Losses: Wyoming, Houston, Utah, San Diego State, New Mexico, BYU, TCU
Utah (10-2)
Wins: Michigan, UNLV, Utah State, Air Force, Weber State, Wyoming, Colorado State, TCU, San Diego State
Losses: New Mexico, BYU
Here's how The Cougar Zone sees BYU's opponents faring this season. By season's end, we'll be sure to hear about how the Cougars' two wins over Pac-10 teams don't mean much since both teams have losing records. Hopefully, BYU is firmly in the Top 10 by then and can prove itself in a BCS game.
Northern Iowa (10-2)
Wins: South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Nicholls State, Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Utah
Losses: BYU, North Dakota State
Washington (5-7)
Wins: Stanford, Oregon State, Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington State
Losses: Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, California
UCLA (5-7)
Wins: Arizona, Fresno State, Washington State, Stanford, Oregon State
Losses: Tennessee, BYU, Oregon, California, Washington, Arizona State, USC
Wyoming (7-5)
Wins: Ohio, Air Force, North Dakota State, Bowling Green, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State
Losses: BYU, New Mexico, Utah, TCU, Tennessee
Utah State (3-9)
Wins: Idaho, San Jose State, New Mexico State
Losses: UNLV, Oregon, Utah, BYU, Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, Boise State, Louisiana Tech
New Mexico (7-5)
Wins: Texas A&M, New Mexico State, Wyoming, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State, Utah
Losses: TCU, Arizona, Tulsa, BYU, Air Force
TCU (9-3)
Wins: New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin, Stanford, SMU, San Diego State, Colorado State, Wyoming, UNLV, Air Force
Losses: Oklahoma, BYU, Utah
UNLV (4-8)
Wins: Utah State, Iowa State, Colorado State, San Diego State
Losses: Utah, Arizona State, Nevada, Air Force, BYU, TCU, New Mexico, Wyoming
Colorado State (2-10)
Wins: Sacramento State, San Diego State
Losses: Colorado, Houston, California, UNLV, TCU, Utah, BYU, New Mexico, Wyoming, Air Force
San Diego State (4-8)
Wins: Cal Poly, San Jose State, Idaho, Air Force
Losses: Notre Dame, TCU, New Mexico, Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Utah, UNLV
Air Force (5-7)
Wins: Southern Utah, Navy, UNLV, Army, Colorado State
Losses: Wyoming, Houston, Utah, San Diego State, New Mexico, BYU, TCU
Utah (10-2)
Wins: Michigan, UNLV, Utah State, Air Force, Weber State, Wyoming, Colorado State, TCU, San Diego State
Losses: New Mexico, BYU
Friday, August 1, 2008
Passing the baton
The wait is over. Saturday, the Cougars kick off fall camp and the famine of BYU football information will officially end. Yes, we still have to wait a few weeks for a real game, but that wait is more manageable with daily BYU info filling the Web.
For most of this summer, The CougarZone has been the most updated BYU blog in the Internet. But with fall camp beginning, it's time to take a back seat. For your daily camp fix, I recommend Greg Wrubell's Cougar Tracks.
While Greg's Daily Download is a thing of the past, his blog with feature camp reports and audio from his daily interviews.
Your next best bet in Jay Drew's Salt Lake Tribune blog. Of the three major papers covering the Cougs, Jay has put the Trib in front this summer with the number of blog entries. The Deseret News and Daily Herald, of course, are great sources as well, with the Herald providing the most regular print coverage.
We now know where BYU will begin the regular season in one of the polls that counts. With a No. 17 spot, the Cougars are in a great position to reach the Top 12 in the BCS standings, even with an early loss.
But here's to perfection.
Once the season gets going, The CougarZone wants to deliver what you most want to see/hear. Last fall, we offered the weekly Fully Invested audio show, a 10-15 minute program including sound bites from Bronco Mendenhall's media luncheon and commentary on the previous game and the coming one.
If you'd like to see it again, just vote in our poll. If you'd rather see something else, let us know.
The time is not far distant. Thanks for reading this summer. Check back often and enjoy fall camp.
For most of this summer, The CougarZone has been the most updated BYU blog in the Internet. But with fall camp beginning, it's time to take a back seat. For your daily camp fix, I recommend Greg Wrubell's Cougar Tracks.
While Greg's Daily Download is a thing of the past, his blog with feature camp reports and audio from his daily interviews.
Your next best bet in Jay Drew's Salt Lake Tribune blog. Of the three major papers covering the Cougs, Jay has put the Trib in front this summer with the number of blog entries. The Deseret News and Daily Herald, of course, are great sources as well, with the Herald providing the most regular print coverage.
We now know where BYU will begin the regular season in one of the polls that counts. With a No. 17 spot, the Cougars are in a great position to reach the Top 12 in the BCS standings, even with an early loss.
But here's to perfection.
Once the season gets going, The CougarZone wants to deliver what you most want to see/hear. Last fall, we offered the weekly Fully Invested audio show, a 10-15 minute program including sound bites from Bronco Mendenhall's media luncheon and commentary on the previous game and the coming one.
If you'd like to see it again, just vote in our poll. If you'd rather see something else, let us know.
The time is not far distant. Thanks for reading this summer. Check back often and enjoy fall camp.
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