Close call vs. Rebels
BYY pulled off the victory today against the UNLV Rebels but it was a close call. The final score was 42-35. I suppose we shouldn’t complain about 42 points scored bust I thought the offense looked just slightly above average. The defense is looking painfully slow these days. It appears that BYU has traded the “bend don’t break” defense for a “bend and break” defense. Not a good sign. In the past two years BYU has gotten better and better throughout the season. This team doesn’t appear to be getting better from game to game. If the Cougs want a chance at winning the MWC they had better fix that problem pronto.
Oooo. We looked bad. Everything I said last week holds. Our secondary looked horrible. I think the difference between the past couple of weeks and our start is that everyone can watch the film and find out who the crappy players are and what our weaknesses are. We just don’t have the talent on defense we did last year. And Hall just thinks he can throw into coverage.
I think the chance of the Cougars winning the conference is pretty remote. TCU would have to lose two conference games and even if Utah beats them who else would they lose to. And for that matter who would Utah lose to?
Comment by Clark — October 25, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
BTW – here’s a debate we had today. Which secondary is worse. This year’s or last year’s? (Remember Tulsa?) While I think our secondary this year is worse I think last year’s kind of sucked too. We just made up for it in other ways I think that, other than our conference loss, that our final season will be pretty similar this year to last as well.
The one positive was that Fui had a pretty good game. We’ve needed him to step up all year.
Comment by Clark — October 25, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
Clark, if we win out and Utah beats TCU we tie for the conference championship at least.
Comment by Geoff J — October 25, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
And in that case we lose since TCU beat us and that breaks the tie.
Comment by Clark — October 26, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Clark, That isn’t true because if we beat Utah and Utah Beats TCU, it is a genuine tie.
Sure, It’s an extremely long shot. But it could happen.
Comment by TrevorM — October 26, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Clark,
Besides what Trevor said, it would still be counted as a conference championship in the books. Further, I believe the Las Vegas Bowl would be allowed to pick whichever team they wanted from the three tied champions in such a case.
Comment by Geoff J — October 26, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
How’s this for a possibility:
If Boise State and TCU lose again before the end of the season BYU could very well find itself in a BCS bowl if it wins out. At #20 this week in the BCS standings BYU and Utah would with face each other with the BCS bowl bid on the line if both win out until then. (I don’t think Tulsa or Ball State would pass an 11-1 BYU even if they go undefeated).
Boise State must defeat Nevada on the road and Fresno State at home to go undefeated. TCU must beat Utah in SLC to be in the hunt for the BCS bid. Utah will get it for sure if they win out but a late season loss would likely scuttle their chances.
Comment by Geoff J — October 26, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
(I don’t think Tulsa or Ball State would pass an 11-1 BYU even if they go undefeated).
They’re already ahead. The question is whether they will they fall behind without losing. Given victories over Air Force and Utah, I think we’ll be able to leapfrog Tulsa. But Ball State is already four places ahead of us. Catching up with them is going to be a difficult thing to do if they don’t lose. I think we need a loss from them as well as TCU and BSU.
Comment by Eric Russell — October 26, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
You may be right Eric. I was sort of thinking that between the computers (after beating AFA and Utah) and the human polls a 11-1 BYU would get the nod over a 12-0 Ball State. Of course getting to 11-1 doesn’t look particularly likely at this point so it all may be moot…
Comment by Geoff J — October 26, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
My biggest fear is that the defense will rest on their laurels because they came through on the last two plays. Given their record so far this season in overtime, I think UNLV would have won if they managed to score on that last drive. BYU’s defense looked horrible. Absolutely horrible.
As much as it pains me to hold this opinion, I think it’s delusional to invision BYU being the BCS buster this year. There would have to be a perfect storm of events that are just too improbable, especially considering BSU’s cupcake schedule.
Comment by vbg — October 27, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
I agree that a BCS bid is an incredible longshot vbg. I was just surprised when it dawned on me that it is not completely impossible.
Comment by Geoff J — October 27, 2008 @ 5:14 pm