Early Predictions for 2009: BYU Cougars

by Jeremy Mauss on Feb 8, 2009 10:06 AM PST Comment 5 comments

Most would love to have a 10-3 record, but for BYU when there were hopes for a BCS bid and a third straight conference title and a 10 win season was not enough. BYU should have the offense even with their loss of wide out Austin Collie, but it was their defense that held them down. A BCS bid is unlikely unless they are able to go undefeated which would require them beating Oklahoma in Dallas, or not get embarrassed and go 11-1.

9-5-09	vs. Oklahoma @Arlington, TX L
9-12-09	at Tulane W
9-19-09	FLORIDA STATE W
10-2-09	UTAH STATE W
TBA	TCU L
TBA	COLORADO STATE W
TBA	AIR FORCE W
TBA	UTAH L
TBA	at Wyoming W
TBA	at New Mexico W
TBA	at San Diego State W
TBA	at UNLV W

Oklahoma They return Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, but lost three offensive lineman.

Tulane Ended the season on an eight game losing streak and only averaged 16.7 points per game.

Florida State They flirted in and out of the top 25 and finished the second half of the year at 3-3.

Utah State The Aggies have a new coach in former Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen..\

TCU Jerry Hughes and a few others from TCU's defense are back to try to duplicate their 2008 performance.

Colorado State The Rams need to break in a new running back and try to find a replacement for tight end Kory Sperry.

Air Force The Falcons have experience this year and could cause some trouble.

Utah Their defense should be just as good as last years with 9 starters back.

Wyoming The new coach will try to run a spread attack.

New Mexico Also, have a new coach who will try to spruce of the offense.

San Diego State They have solid quarterback in Ryan Lindley, but that is about it.

UNLV With a quarterback firmly in place, but they lose their top receiver from 2008.

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With Utah’s two best defenders leaving early for the NFL, they will neither have 9 starters back nor be nearly as good as last year. And that’s besides the loss of their QB, Kicker/Punter, #2 Running Back, top 3 Wide Receivers, Offensive Coordinator, and Defensive Coordinator, among others…

by Mars on Feb 9, 2009 8:59 AM PST reply actions

Sir, I beg to differ with your predictions about BYU’s upcoming season. And they will certainly not lose to Utah!
You might want to rethink this before you come home tonight ;-)

by Bobbie on Feb 9, 2009 11:28 AM PST reply actions

i agree with you on that. Utah is losing too many key coaches and players and I don’t see BYU losing to them again.

by nate9 on Feb 9, 2009 2:15 PM PST reply actions

I don’t think that you are taking into account scheduling and returners very well. Of course Utah won all of their games last year and had an amazing season. But they also had a Senior QB and played OSU, TCU and BYU all at home. They would not have beaten either TCU or OSU on the road this year.

So even if you assume that they can replace their two best defensive players and be just as good, how do you think they are going to do with a first year QB and all of their tough games on the road this year?

Just think about those questions for a minute and then try and tell me with a straight face that you really expect Utah to beat BYU and win the MWC again.

Again, I don’t want to take anything away from Utah’s season in 2008, but I don’t think that enough Ute fans realize that all of the stars aligned for this too happen. Don’t underestimate a senior QB in college football.

by MattC on Feb 10, 2009 12:25 PM PST reply actions

It is very early and an off the cuff projection. The Ute defense will be just as good and we know that BYU has no secondary hopefully that is improved so they can reach their potential.

by Jeremy on Feb 10, 2009 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

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