#20 BYU will face in-state rival Utah State today in Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The (3-1) Cougars are looking to gain some momentum as they enter their conference schedule. If history repeats itself, they should do just that. BYU has won 9 consecutive games against the Aggies. Utah State (1-2) in its history has only beaten 1 ranked team and have lost to the other 49 that they have played.
This Aggie team however is different than the previous teams. They now run a spread offense, which lately has given the BYU defense fits. Utah State in their win over Southern Utah put up 53 points. Utah State's offense currently rankes 8th in the nation in average total yards per game. BYU is a 24 point favorite in this game, but it may be closer than that. If Utah State could move the ball on the BYU defense which struggled against Florida State's spread attack they can make this game close.
Utah State is led by a mobile and athletic quarterback in Diondre Borel. BYU typically struggles with mobile quarterbacks. Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder rushed for 77 yards on only 11 carries against the Cougars, and converted some key third downs with his legs rather than his arm. Borel could put up similar numbers on their defense.
The Aggies on defense however, are greatly overmatched by BYU's offense. Every team that Utah State has faced this season has put up at least 30 points on their defense and no offense that they have faced is playing like Max Hall and the Cougars are. After a disappointing loss to Florida State, BYU bounced back and beat a good Colorado State team 42-23. BYU should have no trouble putting up big numbers on the weaker Aggie team offensively.
This game ultimately comes down to how the Utah State offense can move the ball on BYU's defense. If they can't move the ball effectively this ball game should not be even close. If they can, the 20th ranked Cougars may be on upset alert this evening.