Takin’ care of (SDSU) business
BYU dispatched the woeful SDSU Aztecs in Provo today by a score of 41-12. Going 9-1 ain’t bad. But this is the last easy game of the year for the Cougs with next week’s game at league title contending Air Force and the final game after that at undefeated Utah.
I thought the Cougs looked pretty good overall today. Outside linebacker David Nixon had a stellar game and the defense held its own nicely against a team that scored a bunch of points against CSU. I am suspicious of the stubbornness of offensive coordinator Robert Anae. He seemed determined to run and run and run even though it was clear that the Aztecs were determined to stop the run at all costs. The pass plays were open all day so I don’t understand why BYU didn’t just take what SDSU was giving more consistently. The BYU run game has been unimpressive all year to begin with. While Fui Vakapuna is looking better this year Harvey Unga has looked a step slower than last season. It seems to me that Anae ought to just admit that we are better off going pass first and run second with this team. Collie and Pitta are among the best receivers BYU has ever had so why not just use them first and then use the run to keep defenses honest?
But this is mostly nitpicking. BYU is 9-1 fer cryin’ out loud.
Now as to the rest of the season. If BYU wins out there is still a chance at an invite to a BCS game. It would probably require a loss by Boise State but with the Broncos still needing to defeat Nevada in Reno and Fresno State at home that is not out of the question. I am not sure I would like to see BYU go up against a top SEC or Big 12 team or USC for that matter but I think we could do just fine against the top teams in the ACC, Big East, and even Big 10.
But winning out is no cake walk — indeed it doesn’t really even seem likely considering the weaknesses this BYU team has shown this season — but that is what I’m pulling for at this point. Chime in ye Coug fans.
We need to get it done at Air Force. so we can have a chance at a three-way conference championship tie.
Either way, all that matters now is the Utah game.
Comment by TrevorM — November 8, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
Boise State loosing to any of the 3 teams they have left to play is laughable. They have had 1 close game all year and an away game at Nevada will not be much of a game. Sugar bowl reps were in Boise today any such interest in BYU?
Why do you think TCU will fall behind BYU? BYU is not even ranked in most of the computer polls. As a BYU fan I hate the idea of them looking so bad on national TV. They need a bowl in Provo if they are going to have any chance to win anyway.
Comment by Anon — November 8, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
Anon,
TCU will fall below BYU because the human polls make up 2/3 of the BCS formula and BYU will likely be 10+ spots ahead of TCU in the polls tomorrow. BYU will languish in the computers until they beat AFA and Utah. If the Cougs can pull off two more wins they will surely be in the top 12 of the BCS standings.
But, you are right that Boise State will be favored the rest of the way. Of course the upsets we see every week show that being favored is no guarantee.
And as I said, if the Cougs prove to be good enough to beat AFA and Utah on the road they will be plenty good to beat the reprentatives from the ACC or Big East in a BCS game. Those leagues are not as good as the MWC this year.
Comment by Geoff J — November 8, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Sagarin and other computer rankings doesn’t show the strength of the MWC against any of the major conferences.
1 BIG 12 (A) = 78.31
2 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 77.80
3 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 77.20
4 BIG TEN (A) = 76.83
5 BIG EAST (A) = 74.13
6 PAC-10 (A) = 73.69
7 MOUNTAIN WEST (A) = 69.95
Lets hope they get a Sunbelt or mid WAC team in their bowl game.
31 BYU A = 78.13
49 Air Force A = 75.05
This indicates BYU by 3 on a nuetral field. Playing at AFA makes it pretty close to even Here’s hoping they can win.
They need to win at least 1 road game against a team with a winning record otherwise the offseason can be a real downer.
Comment by Anon — November 8, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
will be plenty good to beat the reprentatives from the ACC or Big East in a BCS game.
Yes, but unfortunately that won’t happen this year. The ACC and Big East champs will play each other in the Orange Bowl, which is bound to be the all-time BCS pillow fight.
The non-BCS bid will likely end up playing Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
Comment by Eric Russell — November 8, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Tomorrows BCS today:)
8 Utah
9 Boise State
14 Texas Christian
15 Brigham Young
Go cougs.
Comment by Jerry — November 8, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
Eric: The non-BCS bid will likely end up playing Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
Ouch. I don’t like the chances of BYU, Utah, or BSU against Texas this year.
Comment by Geoff J — November 9, 2008 @ 12:40 am
So the polls are in. Here are the rankings for BYU:
#16 AP (not part of BCS equation)
#14 Coaches Poll
#14 Harris Poll
#17 BCS rankings (Weak schedule hurting BYU in computer rankings — several teams leapfrogged the Cougs this week as a result)
I think it is safe to assume that with wins over AFA and Utah BYU would move into the top 12 in the BCS rankings.
Comment by Geoff J — November 9, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
So much for my prediction about BYU racing ahead of TCU in the polls. The Cougs are 4 spots ahead in the Coaches poll and one spot ahead in the BCS standings. The AP has TCU ahead — and seeing as how TCU crushed BYU I think that makes sense.
With Utah 10 spots ahead of BYU in the BCS standings there is a real question about whether BYU could pass the Utes even with a win on Nov. 12. If both teams were in the top 12 I don’t know if the the BCS committee could choose who they wanted or are forced to take the higher ranked — I suspect it is the latter. An undefeated BSU would go before either the Utes or the Cougs.
Having said all of that — I am not sure the Cougs can even beat AFA this week so this could all be completely moot.
Comment by Geoff J — November 9, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Looking at Utah’s defense on Thursday I don’t think Hall is going to have a big scoring game. And looking at our defense the last two months I think Utah will have a big scoring game.
Air Force is nowhere near as good this year as in prior years. But it’ll probably be our only hard team since TCU since everyone figured out our defense weaknesses. It should be an interesting game. Like you I’m not at all convinced we’ll win. That said from what I’ve read some of our uninspired defensive players did play better with San Diego. Some of them are very athletic but just don’t put forth the effort that previous players with less talent did in years past. [I originally listed some names, but I think that’s a bit mean so I deleted them although one starts with a H]
Comment by Clark — November 10, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
In BYU Men’s Hoops Notes:
I watched the BYU win over Georgetown college on Tuesday and was impressed with the defense of the Cougs (it was aired on BYU TV). If the Cougs can hit shots I think this year’s hoops team will be better than last year. I honestly won’t miss Plaisted that much as a fan. He was so erratic that I thought he ended up bogging the team down. Maybe, just maybe this will be the year that BYU makes it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. The last time they did that I was a student there! (’93 — That’s a long time ago…)
Comment by Geoff J — November 13, 2008 @ 4:51 pm