BYU Cougars (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) vs. Utah Utes (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS)
College Football Week 2
Date/Time: Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 7:30PM EST
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: Fox
By Loot, NCAA Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Betting Odds: BYU +3.5/UTAH -3.5
Over/Under Total: 45.5
The BYU Cougars come to Salt Lake City to face in-state rivals Utah in key week two college football action. BYU is coming off a heart attack season packed with dramatic endings and this year looks to be the same after their 18-16 win over Arizona last Saturday. The Cougars got a last-second field goal to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after a furious Arizona comeback. Utah also emerged successful in week one, beating Southern Utah. They will have their work cut out for them more this week with a BYU team that seldom disappoints.
The Utes got out of the gates slow against Southern Utah in week one, leading just 3-0 late in the first half. But some growing pains are expected with an offense that is utterly revamped. At the end of the day, the formidable Utes defense was in full-bloom with a shutout 24-0 win. New quarterback Troy Williams threw for a pair of TD strikes and 272 yards. But after a 24-point output against an FCS foe, will they be able to turn it up a notch against BYU?
With an intact offensive line, it was a bit troubling to see the Utes struggle so mightily to get out of the gates against Southern Utah. At the same time, their defense showed some of the venom they will be relying on to get through tough games like this, in addition to a tough Pac-12 schedule that awaits. But they got untracked and again, some adjustment period was needed with so many new pieces. They didn't cover the spread and coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged a better performance will be needed to top the Cougars this week.
The run-game didn't really explode against Southern Utah, with Joe Williams and Troy McCormick chipping in with 49 and 55 yards respectively. Receiver Tim Williams took a big step toward becoming a more valuable contributor in this offense, as he caught two TD passes with 105 yards through the air. McCormick added 55 yards receiving with his 55 rushing yards, with Raelon Singleton chiming in 56 yards. This is an offense that lost its quarterback, top rusher, and top two receivers, so we'll see how they do in their first real test.
Defensively, the Utes have put a lot of recruiting emphasis on this side of the ball. And it should pay off on the line, where they led the nation in sacks last season. Some of that firepower was lost, but they should be formidable. Last season, Utah was able to become a factor in the Pac-12 with a 10-win season. They beat Michigan and Oregon on the road, while also beating Cal and Washington. Losing 4 of their 5 top tacklers from last season with a lot of their offense makes one wonder what we will see when Utah faces a real opponent. That happens this week.
The Utah defense against the BYU offense is likely the key matchup in this game. And the Utah "D" will really be tested against a Cougars offense that is really loaded. They lost some of their power in the receiving crew, while still maintaining an abundance of riches at quarterback, running back, and the line. Kalani Sitake is the new head coach, an alum and Tongan-born leader who adds a hometown feel the team, especially after hiring eight former Cougar players as assistants. One of them is new offensive coordinator Ty Detmer.
Week one was a real grind for Brigham Young. The defense was dominant early, before a late Wildcats rally put them on the precipice. But just like last season, when the chips were down, they stepped up and delivered. It may not have been the ideal debut for Sitake and staff, but it's the type of debut win that can help galvanize a team. While it's often not cited as a team-strength, a sense of brotherhood and the knowledge that you can rally back from adversity can make a team hard to beat. Having the capacity to manufacture improbable wins in the face of major challenges is an important asset to have and BYU has it.
BYU has gone back to former starter Taysom Hill, despite Tanner Mangum's great season in relief of an injured Hill last season. There always seems to be some big-bodied receivers on that sideline and there look to be more this season with Nick Kurtz, Moroni Laulu-Pututau, and Jonah Trinnaman. Last season, the BYU offense was constantly fighting through different injuries, especially at running back, where they were digging deep into the barrel. In week one, Jamaal Williams was back in action and with 162 yards on the ground, he looks ready to have a big season. All in all, Hill and Williams were pretty sharp considering how long they've been out of action. And more importantly perhaps, was their ability to be clutch in critical situations. Since last season, that's been BYU's calling card.
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The same applies to the BYU defense. They can be exploited at times. They sometimes give up big chunks of yardage. But they usually come up big and they did so again in week one. Two interceptions were key. Not having pass-rusher Travis Tuiloma until later in the month will hurt in matchups like this. And Sione Takitaki is listed as questionable. They have good talent at every level of this side of the ball, but with a dilapidated line, will it put the rest of the "D" at peril? At the same time, holding a respectable Arizona offense to 16 points isn't all that bad is it?
The last time these teams played was in last season's Las Vegas Bowl, with the Utes emerging with a 35-28 win. Utah led 35-7 in the third quarter before BYU mounted a big comeback. BYU is more intact now and probably in a better position to win. I look for a close kind of rivalry game that could really go either way. In cases like that, one is tempted to take the points. I'm taking Brigham Young.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the BYU Cougars plus 3.5 points. Did you know... that you could be wagering on the BYU vs. Utah game at discounted odds? There's a better than good chance that you're laying -110 odds (or more) with your book. Stop overpaying TODAY by making the switch to 5Dimes Sportsbook! You will be so glad that you did!
