BYU’s Defense Needs to Get Their Swagger Back Against Utah State

BYU's defense has a chance to make a statement against a good Utah State offense.

A team needs to have a level of confidence in their play in order to succeed. This doesn’t mean the team is cocky, but they do need to have a certain swagger. The confidence of BYU’s defense has been wavering since their loss to Florida State.

BYU has traditionally had trouble containing mobile quarterbacks. Anyone who watched the Florida State game knows the play making ability of Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder really hurt the Cougars defense throughout the game.

Florida State was able to control the ball on the ground. Florida State used Ponder’s mobility to convert key third downs early in the game, and that kept Max Hall and BYU’s offense off the field. Utah State will try to follow this blueprint against BYU this Friday.

Utah State is much improved from last season. The Aggies have a strong offense this season led by quarterback Diondre Borel, and star running back Robert Turbin. Utah State’s offense is currently ranked ninth in the nation in total offense.

Yes, ninth!

The Aggies are currently ranked ahead of the touted BYU offense. Plus, the Aggies’ offensive numbers aren’t inflated from playing multiple low level opponents. Utah State played a good Texas A&M team, a Utah team with an extremely good defense, and their single gimmie game of the season so far was against a scrappy Southern Utah squad. The Aggies’ offense is legit, and it is lead by Borel and Turbin.

Diondre Borel is mobile playmaker, who knows how to control the football. Borel only has a single interception this season. He is not an accurate passer only completing 52% of his passes, but he is an excellent game manger. On third down Borel is good at using his athletic ability to convert third downs on the ground.

Robert Turbin has breakaway speed. Every time Turbin touches the ball he has the potential to turn the play into a touchdown. Turbin is also able to run with power. He is strong enough to run over defenders, and pickup additional yards after contact. It will take solid tackling to bring him down.

The Utah State game will be an interesting opportunity for BYU’s defense to really demonstrate just what they are made of this season.

What is the goal for BYU’s defense against Utah State? Regain their swagger.

BYU’s defense was great in the first two games against the run. The defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, and the linebackers were flying all over the field. The last two games the defense has looked sluggish, and the defensive line has been manhandled.

The keys for BYU to stop Utah State’s offense will start with the defensive line. Jan Jorgenson and Brett Denny need to get constant pressure on Borel; however, they need to play assignment sound football. They need to know where they are on the field during their pass rush. They cannot overrun the pocket, and allow Borel to step up and evade the initial pass rush.

The linebackers will have to be playing to stop the run. The linebackers will need to fill the gaps with solid run blitzes to contain Turbin. The linebacker will also be the second line of defense against the mobility of Borel. This means that either Coleby Clawson or Terrance Hooks needs to be spying on Borel. Whoever is spying on Borel will need to make sure to punish Borel, if he chooses to leave the pocket.

With BYU focusing on the run the secondary will need to stay home and protect against the play-action pass. The four members of the secondary are averaging the most tackles per game on the Cougar defense. This aggression by the defensive secondary, to cheat down on the run, has burned BYU in the last two games when teams use play-action passing.

Florida State and Colorado State both took advantage of the play-action pass to pick apart BYU’s defense. Utah State with such a powerful running game will be looking to hit a few home run balls against the Cougars Friday night.

BYU’s secondary will have to rely on the front seven to control the line of scrimmage, which will allow the secondary to stay home and defend against the pass.

BYU’s defense is built on being assignment sound. BYU believes their defense will out execute the opposing team’s offense. Against Oklahoma to start the season each unit of the defense was nearly perfect in their assignments, and the defense looked to be a formidable juggernaut in the Mountain West Conference.

BYU’s defense really has a chance to reestablish itself as the strength of the 2009 Cougar football team with a solid effort. While national media and most average fans will not think much of stopping Utah State’s offense; if BYU were to hold Utah State under ten points it would be a real moral victory. A moral victory and confidence boaster BYU could continue to build on during conference play.

One of the biggest supports BYU’s defense can receive is solid play from BYU’s offense. BYU needs to keep their defense off the field. This means limiting the number of times they allow their opponents to start with a short field by turning over the ball.

It also means the offense needs to rely more on the running game to overpower the smaller Aggie defense. While the Aggies are ranked number nine in total offense, they are ranked 117^th in total defense.

BYU could get into a shootout with Utah State and win. They have more fire power on the offensive side of the ball to simply out score the Aggies. Yet, BYU would benefit more over the course of the season by constructing long sustained drives.

Controlling the football against a weaker Utah State team would allow BYU’s defense to rest, and be more dominate on the field. This would allow BYU defenders to have a solid performance against an offense ranked in the top 10. BYU’s defense would regain their swagger which they had in the first two games of the season.

It is going to take a complete offense and defense for BYU to win the conference this season. If the BYU’s offense will lend a hand this Friday, then BYU’s defense could have a statement level performance.

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BYU, Utah, and Utah State All Going in Different Directions after Losses Over the Weekend

All three major college football programs in Utah lost over the weekend, and all three teams should be taking different views on the losses they suffered.

It was a rough weekend for all three of Utah's major college football teams over the weekend. All three teams were going into their games with something to prove, and all three failed to put together winning football games. Yet, all three teams should be looking at their failure in a different light.

Utah State has to be feeling good in spite of losing over the weekend. Utah State went to Texas A&M, a money game, and had the ball with a chance to tie the game in the final minutes of the game. The offense was able to move the ball against a bigger Big 12 defense. The Aggies are playing by far their best football in the past five years. If Utah State could control their turnovers then they would really have a chance to not only compete with established programs, but they will start to win the big games.

Utah State has not played a home game this season, and should be rolling over Southern Utah at home this Saturday. The Aggies could also be in a great position to take BYU by surprise in two weeks. Utah State might be the best 0-2 team in the nation. Of course, that just isn't a title a team, coaching staff, or fan base really wants to hear.

Utah struggled at home against Utah State, they then struggled to finish off a bad San Jose State team, and finally Utah could not handle a low level PAC-10 team in Oregon. Utah played sloppy. Watching this year's Utah team there are major holes in all parts of their game. The offense is not explosive, their defense is not stopping other teams, and their special teams are sketchy at best. Utah has little identity as a team. Utah also doesn't have time to wait to find their identity.

Louisville is coming into Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday. If Utah plays like they did against Oregon, it is going to be an incredibly long game for the Utes. Louisville is not going to give up four turnovers to the Utes to keep them in the game. How Utah plays this Saturday will be very telling about how good they will play the rest of the year.

BYU was embarrassed! There is nothing BYU can take away and build on from the thumping they took from Florida State. BYU was dominated from start to finish in every aspect of the game. Florida State came in with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove, and BYU just never seemed to have any passion to play the game. Sadly it seems they were under prepared to face a good Florida State team.

Just like last year BYU faced unbelievable expectations, and they cracked under the pressure. The key is how BYU will handle their first loss of the year. Last year BYU was never the same team after TCU man-handled them on the road. The offense was gun shy the rest of the year, and the defense never got back the swagger a good unit needs to compete.

Last year the expectations were high, this year they were even higher. Last year BYU went down hard on the road against TCU, this year BYU was embarrassed at home against Florida State. How BYU responds will tell a lot about how far Bronco and his staff has progressed from a year ago. If they are able to refocus their team, and get them ready to play in conference. Colorado State will be a challenge for BYU this weekend. BYU could easily drop another game at home, if they don't shake off last weekends loss.

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The Big Podcast Episode 17 - BYU Beats Oklahoma Edition

Talking about BYU's historic win, and what it means for the rest of the season.

In episode 17 we discuss:

• What led to BYU's big win
• What does it mean for the rest of the season
• Give a big Mahalo to coach Anae
• Talk about the upcoming BYU vs. Tulane game
• Review the rest of the weekend of college football
• Talk about the Utah vs. Utah State game

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Quick Observations From the Utah vs Utah State Game

Observations about the Utah vs Utah State game...

The Utah vs Utah State game was very interesting last night. While the game was in hand for most of the fourth quarter, and it was very clear that there was a difference between where the Aggies are in respect to the Utes, the game was closer than people thought.

Utah defense did just enough to win. The Utah defense that has been touted to be the driving force this season for the Utes, did not perform to the level of expectations. Utah defenders will bring up the point that the Aggies didn't convert a third down the entire game. Yet, the Aggies were still able to move the ball against the Utes. It was poor play calling that cost the Aggies on third and fourth down, which was one of the many signs during the game that Utah State had a rookie head coach. If Utah wants to maintain their spot at the top of the conference this season, then their defense will need to improve.

Utah's offense didn't manage the game. The thought before the season was that Utah's offense would manage the game, limiting their turnovers, and then allow their defense to control the field position. In the second half the Utes figured out that they could pound the ball on the ground through the weak Utah State defensive line. While the statistics look good on paper, the execution on the field was generally poor. The Utes have one more game to get their offense in order before they start face better defensive units.

Utah State blew opportunities. The Aggies marched down the field on the first drive of the game. Just that single drive proved that Utah State will be able to move the ball this season. Turbin also proved that he will be an elite running back in the Western Athletic Conference. The hit of the night occurred when Turbin knocked a Ute defender on his back and then sprinted for another five yards. Turbin is a physical runner that also has explosive speed. The real problem with the Utah State offense was the play calling. Too often they would go away from the spread offense that was successful for most of the game, especially on key third and fourth down plays. The Aggies never took advantage of any of the turnovers in the game, and also failed to give Borel time in the pocket. The good news is the adjustments that Utah State needs to make are tweaks and not major overhauls.

How about the new uniforms for the Aggies. The Mtn. was broadcasting the previous two Utah vs. Utah State games leading up to the game last night. One thing that was obvious is that Utah State now has a little more money in the football program. The uniforms the previous two seasons looked as if they were something a JV junior high team would wear. The color was bad, their was a lack of names on the back of the jersey, and everything about them scream second rate. A coach I had growing up taught me an important lesson, "Teams will play like they look." It might be subconscious, but teams will play better if they have nicer equipment. The Aggies looked like an actual college football team last night, and they played like an actual team too. Expect success from the new look Aggies.

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What Will it Take for BYU and Utah State to Win this Weekend?

Both BYU and Utah State are trying to prove everyone wrong this week...

21

The number 21 is the connection that both the BYU vs Oklahoma and the Utah State vs Utah games share. 21 is the betting line for both games, with Utah State and BYU being the underdogs in each. Yet, it is hard to think that BYU is as far away from Oklahoma as Utah State is from Utah.

Utah State probably has a much better chance of beating Utah than BYU has beating Oklahoma. Look back at the Aggies season a year ago, and you will notice that they weren't that far away from a 5-7 season. While you might be saying, "What is the big deal? 3-9 or 5-7, both are pretty bad." Yes, both are poor records to have as a team, but there is a big difference between barely 3-9 and a disappointing 3-9. The Aggies had the talent last season to be a 5-7 team, and try to push to find a way to get a sixth all important win.

The majority of the contributing players that the Aggies had last season are back this season. They have a solid running back in Robert Turbin, and a proven play maker in Diondre Borel. The defense should be better, although the defensive line could still use some serious work. The other difference that the Aggies have, which will make a difference, is a change in attitude. It is clear to anyone watching the Aggies practice that there is a different mentality among the team. Gary Anderson has brought in a culture of accountability, discipline, and hope.

In regards to the Utah game, Utah State has the competitive advantage in that Utah has no idea what to expect from the Aggies. While at the same time Gary Anderson knows Utah's defense inside and out. Anderson has done everything that he can to keep a tight lid on the changes he is implementing in Logan. He is restricting the media's access to his players, practices, and even limiting what he showed to fans at the final fall scrimmage. Gary Anderson could have some surprises in store for his old team, when he makes his return to Rice-Eccles stadium.

Utah State is improved this season, but Utah might be a little overrated from last season. Utah is still a very good football team; however, they have lost some key skill players. Brian Johnson really made the offense work last season, and his loss along with Darrell Mack will hurt the productivity of the offense. Yet, the biggest loss for Utah is Paul Kruger. The most influential position on defense in college football is defensive end. A good defensive end will change a college football game. If you think otherwise, just look back at last year's BYU vs Utah game. Kruger almost single handily shut down Max Hall in that game. Kruger was a player that other teams had to game plan for, and always know where he was on the field. Utah has some good talent on defense, but they don't have another Paul Kruger.

Utah is trying to retool their offense on the run, and rely on their defense to carry them in their first few games. This is the biggest advantage, and chance that Utah State has in their opening game. If Gary Anderson's knowledge of Utah's defense can establish a weakness that the Aggies could exploit, then Utah State could get into a higher scoring game which would give them a chance to outscore a newly tooled Utah offense.

While Utah is good, but rebuilding; Oklahoma is great,they are coming back from a National Title Game loss, and the majority of their skill players are coming back. They have a Heisman Trophy winner, arguably the best front seven on defense ever in college football, and a stable full of tall athletic wide receivers. Oklahoma has little to no question marks going into the season, they are only worried about a possible injury derailing their chances of beating Texas and returning to the National Championship game.

BYU on the other hand ended last season on a huge low note. Max Hall turned into an interception/fumbling machine. Unga disappeared from the offense. The secondary was a complete joke. Plus, the four out of five offensive linemen graduated from school. The offensive line and secondary were the major concerns coming into the new season for BYU, and surprisingly enough there are more questions and concerns about the offensive line and secondary today than at the beginning of camp.

Three offensive linemen who were thought to contribute this season are injured: Matt Reynolds, Houston Reynolds, and Jason Speredon, although Matt Reynolds may return for the Oklahoma game.

The secondary is a pure mystery. The athletes in the secondary are better this season, than last year's secondary. Yet, the top four secondary guys are all fighting injuries, and another member of the secondary, Garett Nicholson, didn't qualify for school.

BYU has their work cut out for them against the Sooners. The only real chance that BYU has in their opening game is to control the clock. BYU would have to turn to their ground attack to keep the ball out of Sam Bradford's hands. Even if BYU were to make the game low scoring, and control the time of possession, it is very unlikely that they will win.

BYU needs to hope that they will at least be in striking distance at the end of the game, and hope that one of the new players can step up and have a breakout game. The one weakness that the Sooners do have, is they are trying to replace members of their secondary. If BYU can stay close, they could take advantage of the Sooners' secondary in the end.

Is it a long shot for both BYU and Utah State? Yes. Can both teams still have successful seasons even if they lose their opening game? Yes. Could both teams win their openers? It would shock some people, but it isn't impossible. There is a reason that teams actually play the game on the field and not on paper.

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The Big Podcast Episode 9 - Election 2008 Edition

Election 2008 Edition, Go Rock The Vote!...

In Episode 8 we discuss...

• BYU's scary win over CSU, the superb offensive effort and the lack of D...again.
  
• Utah's close game against UNM and the biggest game in MWC history against TCU
  
• Utah State gets the W!
  
• Basketball City League Team Names
  
• Utah Jazz and how well Brevin Knight (aka The Dark Knight) fits into the Jazz's system
  
• Some politics, John Stockton for President
• A little TV talk
  

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The Big Podcast Episode 8 - The C-R Madsen Edition

Craig Madsen joins us on this weeks edition of the BIG Podcast...

In Episode 8 we discuss...

• BYU's win over UNLV, the lack of defense and upcoming game against CSU
  
• Utah's bye week and the upcoming game against UNM
  
• Utah State's heartbreaking loss against Fresno State
  
• Tortillas Gone Awry, How a simple toss of a tortilla can land you jail time
  
• The World Series
  
• A little TV talk
  

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Week 9 Mountain West Conference Football Predictions

Utah has a bye, and BYU tries to recover in week 9...

Just like the BYU Cougars last week I wasn't on my game picking. Scott came away with a narrow victory thanks to Air Force coming back and beating UNLV by a single point. Here are the results/standings:

Mark [Last Week 5-3(.625) Overall 49-25(.662) Head-To-Head 3-2-2]
Scott [Last Week 6-2(.750) Overall 48-26(.648) Head-To-Head 2-3-2]

The Air Force/New Mexico game should help shape if the Falcons can hold up as the season is winding down. BYU also needs to recover or else they could get punked at home by the Rebels. Here are the prediction for week 9:

UNLV @ #21 BYU 12PM MT The Mtn

BYU got there butts kicked, but they are very lucky to be getting UNLV at this point in the season. UNLV is coming off of two weeks of tough fought losses, and now they are looking to try and prepare to play at Provo this weekend and host TCU the next. UNLV has a good running back, and receivers that can test BYU's weak secondary; however, playing at home will give BYU's defense a boast and the offense energy.

BYU 42 UNLV 21

How does BYU respond to last week’s beat down? Bronco stated at halftime of the TCU game that we would learn a lot about the BYU football team in the second half of the game. Well, we learned that the BYU defense is not as good as a lot of people thought, the offense depends WAY too much on Collie, and that the coaching staff got out coached. As good as Collie and Hall are, the most important player for BYU is Harvey Unga, they need to get him the ball. UNLV has a chance to turn their season. After a 3-1 start, they have dropped three in a row. Clayton presents a huge challenge for the BYU defense. If the Cougars can’t get pressure on Clayton, he will shred the BYU secondary apart. I expect UNLV to pound the ball early with Summers and look to expose the BYU secondary on 3rd down.

BYU 31 UNLV 21

New Mexico @ Air Force 6PM MT (Thursday) Versus

If New Mexico wants to compete for a bowl birth this is a must win game. Air Force is looking to finish strong this season, something that the Cadets have failed to do in the past. This game should be a low scoring slug fest with both teams relying on strong ground attacks. Air Force should be able to find a way to win at home.

Air Force 17 New Mexico 14

New Mexico is playing pretty good football right now. They have an opportunity to mix things up in the conference. They rely heavily on their rushing attack and defense. Ther is no hiding what Air Force likes to do. To sum things up, AFA’s QB Shea Smith has only ATTEMPTED 50 passes all year. The offense averages 300 yards rushing each game. They have 7 players who have rushed for 184 yards or more. Air Force grinds this one out on the ground.

Air Force 28 New Mexico 14

Wyoming @ #14 TCU 4PM MT The Mtn

Joe Glenn might just start the game by giving double barrels to Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs, because they are going to get beat silly. It might be interesting to see if the Cowboys get the ball past midfield.

TCU 38 Wyoming 0

TCU admitted that they had BYU circled on their calendar ever since they lost to the Cougars last year in Provo. Do they have a let down game now? Yes and No. I don’t think TCU is as good of a football team as they were against BYU. They executed everything they did to perfection last week. So in terms of their level of play, this will be a down week. But TCU is still a very good football team and deserves their #14 ranking…oh yeah, and they play Wyoming. Poor Cowboys might be shutout again. The Cowboys only score 9 points/game. They just might want to cancel the rest of the season and kick it in Dallas for the winter. I’m sure most players would love that rather than spending their time in Laramie.

TCU 27 Wyoming 3

Colorado State @ San Diego State 7:30PM MT The Mtn

Oh Aztecs how can you shame yourself more? I am sure we will find out this weekend against Colorado State.

Colorado State 35 San Diego State 10

CSU hung around for 2 quarters against Utah last week. CSU is not going to score a ton of points, but their defense might hold SDSU to only 7 points. Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that CSU could get bowl eligible? Including this game, they have 4 winnable games on their schedule. SDSU lost by 63 points to New Mexico. The Aztecs are in falling apart. Where would SDSU and USU be without Idaho???

Colorado State 24 San Diego State 10

Fresno State @ Utah State 1PM MT ESPN360

Fresno State isn't as good as people thought they were, but Utah State isn't as good as we thought they were at the beginning of the season. I have no reasoning to base this one, but I think that the Aggies are going to keep this game close. I don't think they will pull a big upset at home. Fresno State's running game is too good for the Aggies to stay in the game late.

Fresno State 21 Utah State 13

Speaking of Utah State, the Aggies get an underachieving Bulldog team at home. Utah State can’t afford to fall behind early. Their only shot at keeping it close is to come out and establish themselves in the first quarter. No team plays with confidence when they are fighting to get out of a 21 point deficit. Once again, they need to find a way to play with a high level of emotion, like they were in the 4th quarter against BYU. It seems as if the team was feeding off the energy of the crowd. The Aggies may keep it close, but the bottom line is that they just aren’t good enough to compete for 60 minutes.

Fresno State 38 Utah State 14

The Big Podcast GAME OF THE WEEK
#6 Oklahoma State @ #1 Texas 1:30 PM MT ABC

This should be a very good game. Texas proved that they are able to take care of business now that they have the top spot with a big win over Missouri. Oklahoma State must go to Texas for there shot at the Longhorns. Oklahoma State has proven that they can win on the road beating Missouri on the road. Oklahoma State has a very good defense that gave Chase Daniels fits, but so did the Longhorn's defense last week. Oklahoma has the tools for beating Texas and they will take the Longhorns by surprise.

Oklahoma State 31 Texas 28

Texas is the best team in college football, at least though the first 8 weeks of the season. Texas’ defense has been good, but not great. The reason they are winning all of their games is that Colt McCoy and the offense simply outscore the opponent. Eventually they will need their defense to win a game for them (although you could argue that they did so last week despite giving up 31 points to Missouri). Probably the biggest surprise of the season has been the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They score a ton of points. Unlike Oklahoma and Missouri, they have a very very good rushing attack. In addition to that, their QB Zac Robinson has grown into a man this year. This game is going to be a nail biter and look for Colt McCoy to lead the Longhorns on a game winning drive late in the 4th quarter.

Texas 41 Oklahoma State 35

#7 Georgia @ #13 LSU 1:30PM MT CBS

Georgia is looking better after the slaughter that Alabama laid on them. LSU is still trying to recover from Florida exposing them two weeks ago. There won't be any officials tackling Georgia this weekend for the Tigers.

Georgia 28 LSU 17

Most defenses in the SEC are monsters, while most offenses are below average. Georgia is one of the few teams with a very good offense. LSU is still struggling to find their identity with a redshirt freshman at the QB position. I expect Georgia’s defense to limit what LSU can do on the other side of the ball. Is it possible that the Bulldogs are looking past the defending national champions to next week’s showdown against Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators? This game is much closer than it should be.

Georgia 17 LSU 14

#3 Penn State @ #9 Ohio State 6PM MT ABC

Ohio State is starting to look like the team that was suppose to compete with USC on the road instead of getting destroyed like the Trojans. This game could go a long ways in determining who will win the Big 10. Penn State after a slow start put away Michigan at home. Yet, so far this season Penn State has played all of their big games at home. Ohio State on the road is going to be when Penn State will trip up.

Ohio State 31 Penn State 24

This is the biggest game of the year in the Big Ten. This is not the same OSU team that lost to OSU at the beginning of the season. Terrelle Pryor has proven that he can lead this Buckeye team to victory. He is still a raw passer, but can get it done with his feet. Having Beanie Wells back is a huge plus for OSU. Penn State looks legit. They have a very proficient offense along with a strong defense. They are the only team in college with both a top ten offense and defense. I don’t know how Paterno does it, I don’t even think Joe remembers how, but they have a great football team in Happy Valley.

Penn State 24 Ohio State 17

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Week 8 Mountain West Conference Predictions

After a bye week Scott and I take over the predictions from Ashley...

Ashley took over the predictions from Scott and I last week and ended up with a 6-3(.667) record. Not a bad week of picks from Ashley. The overall standings still remain the same between Scott and I from last week:

Mark[Overall 44-22(.667) Head-to-Head 3-1-2]
Scott[Overall 42-24(.6360 Head-to-Head 1-3-2]

This weekend is filled with a lot of top games. Be sure to have the popcorn ready, because it looks to be good. Here are the week 8 predictions starting with the game of the week:

The Big Podcast GAME OF THE WEEK
#9 BYU @ #24 TCU (Thursday) 6PM MT Versus

This is a match up between BYU's offense against the Horned Frogs' defense. The Horned Frogs' defense has been strong the entire season, except when they faced Oklahoma's high powered offense. BYU's offense has struggled in the last seven quarters, and BYU will need a quick start if they hope to beat TCU in Fort Worth. What no one is talking about is the match up between the Offense of TCU and BYU's defense. TCU is not a passing team, and runs a similar option style offense to New Mexico. BYU's defense will be able to keep TCU's offense off the field, and that will be the key to BYU's victory.

BYU 35 TCU 17

TCU has a monster D and is going up against a very good BYU offense. BYU has struggled offensively the past two games, and is looking to rebound. They definitely have the potential to be very explosive. The key match up in this game is TCU’s defensive line against BYU’s offensive line…it could be an epic battle of the big uglies. TCU’s offense is very good at controlling the game on the ground. They hold on to the ball about 13 minutes more than their opponents. BYU’s bend but don’t break defense has been good enough to keep teams from scoring. TCU already has a hard time scoring.

BYU 24 TCU 13

Colorado State @ #14 Utah 12PM MT The Mtn

Utah continues to struggle to put together complete football games. On paper Utah should have no problems with Colorado State at home. Yet, historically Colorado State plays Utah tough every season. Colorado State is improved from last season, but won't have the fire power to hand with Utah. Even if Utah plays a C level game they win big.

Utah 38 Colorado State 13

What has happened to Brian Johnson? Utah’s offense has not looked very good for a while now and CSU has a very good defense. Utah has won on the strength of their defense and special teams. The most surprising team this year in the MWC has been Colorado State. They have competed very well. They shot themselves in the foot last week against TCU and had opportunities to win the game. This is going to be tougher game for Utah than most people think…but they pull it off in the end like they have all year.

Utah 21 Colorado State 17

San Diego State @ New Mexico 4PM MT The Mtn

New Mexico was able to control the ball on the ground, on the road, against a good BYU team. They weren't able to put the ball into the end zone against BYU. (Technically they did, but a poor call reversed the Lobo touchdown) The Lobos shouldn't have that problem against San Diego State at home.

New Mexico 24 San Diego State 7

Although New Mexico only scored 3 points against BYU, they showed some signs of life. Their defense looks capable of keeping them in the game. If they can get any big plays from the QBs through the air, they can compete in most games. SDSU has really struggled in most facets of the game.

New Mexico 28 San Diego State 20

Air Force @ UNLV 8PM MT The Mtn

UNLV has scored points early in their last two games against Colorado State and Nevada; however, they have played terrible second quarters and given the leads back. Air Force got off to a slow start against San Diego State last week before taking care of the Aztecs. The extra week that UNLV had to prepare for Air Force will make the difference in the game.

UNLV 28 Air Force 21

UNLV is in a brutal 5 game stretch right now with games against AFA, BYU and TCU after already losing to Nevada and CSU. The question is whether or not this team is going to give up and throw in the towel. They desperately need a win this week to avoid a potential 5 game losing streak. AFA is going to run the ball and control the clock like they do each week. Not sure if UNLV has any answers on defense.

Air Force 35 UNLV 21

Utah State @ Nevada 2PM MT ESPN360

San Jose State humiliated the Aggies last week, and any momentum the Aggies had from their performance against BYU is gone. Playing on the road again this week will be difficult for the Aggies.

Nevada 42 Utah State 13

You would hope that 6 games into the season that Utah State would have found some answers both offensively and defensively. They still don’t have a QB who is ready to lead this team. The USU defense has to hold team under 20 points if they want to give their offense a chance to win. Nevada has the ability to score a lot of points. They are averaging almost 50 points over their last 3 games. If USU can just somehow find that emotion that they played with against BYU, they have a chance to be a decent team.

Nevada 38 Utah State 14

#16 Kansas @ #4 Oklahoma 1:30PM MT ABC

Yes, Oklahoma lost to Texas, but they didn't look bad doing it. Oklahoma is a very good football team, and Kansas has been skating by so far this season. Oklahoma will win big at home.

Oklahoma 52 Kansas 17

Of all the weeks that you want Oklahoma on your schedule, this is definitely not that week. Yes Oklahoma lost last week to Texas, but they played pretty well. I expect them to come out firing on all cylinders. Kansas has been a little inconsistent through their first 6 games. They need a mistake free game from their QB Reesing is they want to keep it close. Reesing is no Colt McCoy, but he is a very good QB. If there is one way to expose Oklahoma, it is through the air. In the end, Oklahoma just has too much firepower.

Oklahoma 42 Kansas 21

#12 Ohio State @ #20 Michigan State 1:30 PM MT ABC

I smell a Ringer! Javon Ringer already has 1,112 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns this season for the Spartans. Ohio State will have problems containing Ringer on the road.

Michigan State 31 Ohio State 17

Can Michigan State avoid their mid season collapse that has plagued them the past 10 years? If there is ever a time to beat OSU, this is the year. OSU is starting a true freshman at QB and their star RB has been hobbled by a bum ankle. Injuries have also started taking a toll on the defense. Yet the Buckeyes somehow find a way to win, while the Spartans always find a way to lose this game. I don’t think Javon Ringer can carry the load much longer for MSU. They need Hoyer to make some plays down field, which he hasn’t been able to do all season. OSU’s defense is their strength and they will be able to do enough to come away with a victory.

Ohio State 21 Michigan State 20

#11 Missouri @ #1 Texas 6PM MT ABC

Chase Daniels and the Tigers' offense looked confused at home against Oklahoma State. Daniels who only had one interception going into last Saturday threw three interceptions against the Cowboys. The problem for Chase Daniels and the Tigers is Texas' defense looks to be better than Oklahoma State. It is also more difficult to play on the road.

Texas 35 Missouri 31

There are no weeks off in the Big 12. After beating the #1 team in the nation last week, Texas plays their second toughest game of the season. Missouri is coming of a disappointing loss last week, proving to the world that Mike Gundy is a man. Someone other than Colt McCoy is going to have to have a big game on the ground to keep Missouri honest. Chase Daniel is about as good as they get at QB. He is completing about 75% of his passes and picks defenses apart. Jeremy Maclin is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Last week, Texas got the breaks they needed, this week the ball bounces Missouri’s way.

Missouri 31 Texas 24

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The Big Podcast Episode 6 - Cousin Larry Edition

Cousin Larry joins The Big Podcast, and we talk BYU vs TCU...

In Episode 6 we discuss...

• The new AP/Coaches Polls
• BYU/New Mexico game recap, and BYU/TCU preview
• Cousin Larry joins the show to recap Utah/Wyoming and Utah State/San Jose State
• Cousin Larry also give his take on BYU football
• Mark's "that BYU guy rant"
• Office and Heroes discussion

Download here (Right click and save as...) or listen with the player below...

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The Wife's Outburst: Week 7 Mountain West Football Predictions

Ashley takes over the predictions from Scott and I this week...

This week mine and Scott's schedules didn't work for us to make the predictions. We decided that we were just going to take a bye week and keep going next week. Yet, Ashley decided that she wanted to take a shot at predicting the games this week. Here are the standings from last week:

Mark [Last Week 7-3 (.700) Overall 44-22(.667)Head-to-Head 3-1-2]
Scott [Last Week 6-4 (.600) Overall 42-24(.636) Head-to-Head 1-3-2]

So here is Ashley's predictions for the week:


New Mexico at #9 BYU 4PM MT The Mtn

Okay...BYU will win against New Mexico. I have been to New Mexico and find it is pretty boring. There is nothing there. Cougars will beat the Lobos.

BYU 48 New Mexico 10

#14 Utah at Wyoming 12PM MT The Mtn

I am going to say Utah will win this one. Wyoming is an awful team. Just get in and get out. Utah has a really good team. Wyoming...not so much.

Utah 35 Wyoming 3

TCU at Colorado State 1:30PM MT CBS College

TCU isn't that great of a team. Colorado State will win this one because they don't have purple as their school color.

TCU 14 Colorado State 21

Air Force at San Diego State 7:30 PM MT The Mtn

Air Force will fly against San Diego State. Even though there is a naval base in San Diego, Air Force will come back with a vengeance after their loss against Navy last week. Go Falcons!

Air Force 38 San Diego State 14

Utah State at San Jose State 5:30 PM MT ESPNU

I don't think Utah State will win this game, but it will be a close one down to the wire. It will look like Utah State is going to win, but Utah State will get shafted and the officials will call a bad call and San Jose State will get the ball and be able to get a field goal...all because of the bad call.

San Jose State 24 Utah State 21

#4 LSU at #11 Florida 6PM MT CBSHD

LSU Tigers all the way. They have a better quarterback. Plus I always root for LSU. Go Tigers!

LSU 35 Florida 21

#1 Oklahoma vs. #5 Texas 10AM MT ABCHD

I think that Texas will win this game. Texas has a much better mascot and their fans are better. Go Longhorns!!

Texas 42 Oklahoma 24

#17 Oklahoma State at #3 Missouri 6PM MT ESPN2HD

Missouri will win this game. Oklahoma State won't be able to keep up with the Missouri Tigers.

Missouri 32 Oklahoma State 14

#6 Penn State at Wisconsin 6PM MT ESPNHD

Joe Paterno (yes...I know I am good!!) will lead the Penn State team to victory against Wisconsin. A lion will win big anytime they fight a badger.

Penn State 52 Wisconsin 9

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The Big Podcast Episode 5 - Matt Stowell Guest Host Edition

Matt Stowell sits in studio for Mark...

In Episode five we discuss...

• BYU/Utah State game
• Utah's win over Oregon State
• Movement in the polls
• Mountain West College Football
• Utah Jazz basketball

Download here (Right click and save as...) or listen with the player below...

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Week 6 Mountain West Football Predictions

Utah has a chance to make some national noise that will help their BCS hopes this week...

In a week of upsets I was able to squeak out a close win over Scott. Here are the standings and results from last week:

Mark [Last Week 8-3 (.727) Overall 37-19 (.660) Head-to-Head 2-1-2]
Scott [Last Week 7-4 (.636) Overall 36-20 (.642) Head-to-Head 1-2-2]

This week Utah will try and make a statement against Oregon State. The Beavers will have national attention after beating USC, and that works well for the Utes who have played second fiddle to BYU this team as the "other" Mountain West BCS contender. The Aggies and Cougars continue their rivalry this week, and Utah State looks to pull a monumental upset over #8 BYU. Both teams are coming off a bye, and it will be interesting to see if there will be rust showing from either team. Here are this week's predictions:

Oregon State @ # 15 Utah 7PM MT Versus

The Beavers shocked the Trojan's last week. Why? They are a young team at key positions, and those young players are very talented. The problem though with young players is consistency. Playing on a Thursday, on the road, and against a very good Utah team will be more than the Beavers can handle.

Utah 31 Oregon State 13

Oregon State played out of their heads last week against USC. OSU wasn’t a very good team before the USC game (losing to Stanford and getting blown out at Penn State), and I don’t think they will be a very good team after the USC game. Utah on the other hand has a chance to make some noise, and with a little help, move into the top 10 along with BYU (not this week, but sometime in the future). Once again, Utah only plays one half and allows OSU to hang around.

Utah 31 Oregon State 27

#8 BYU @ Utah State 6PM MT KJZZ

This game looks to be lopsided. Yet, it won't be as lopsided as BYU fans are expecting. Especially considering most BYU fans are thinking that the defense will continue the streak of shut outs. Borel is a very mobile quarterback, and that is going to cause some problems for the Cougars. Enough problems for the Cougars that the Aggies will win? No, but it will be enough for the Aggies to put score some points against BYU defense.

BYU 56 Utah State 20

Three shutouts in a row?? Ok, Ok, I really don’t think that this is going to happen, but if it does, you heard it first here. This is an emotional game for the Aggies and they will be pumped up. Unfortunately BYU is better on both sides of the ball and special teams aren’t enough to get USU a win against a top 10 BYU team.

BYU 42 Utah State 0

UNLV @ Colorado State 12PM MT The Mtn

UNLV dropped a game against in-state rival Nevada last weekend. The Revels weren't able to stay in the shoot-out style game with Nevada's high powered offense. Colorado State though doesn't have enough offense to exploit the Rebel's defense.

UNLV 28 Colorado State 10

Let see how UNLV responds to last week’s loss to Nevada. UNLV gave up 400+ yards rushing last week, and CSU is going to try to exploit that. I have been really impressed with how CSU has competed this year and I expect them to grind out a victory at home. CSU’s defense only gave up 21 points to Cal on the road, which is impressive.

Colorado State 21 UNLV 17

Navy @ Air Force 2PM MT Versus

This looks to be a good football game, with two run happy offense. Playing at home give the Falcons the advantage this weekend.

Air Force 24 Navy 17

I love the “armed forces” football games because it really puts thing in perspective. Thanks to all these young men for serving our country! Now back to football…If you love option football, look no further than AFA against Navy. Navy shocked Wake Forrest last week and appears to be better than most people thought they would be. AFA is a very good football team and should easily control this game. The real question is how long the game will last. My guess is 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Air Force 28 Navy 14

San Diego State @ TCU 4 PM MT The Mtn

I would not want to be the Aztecs this weekend. The Horned Frogs didn't put up a fight against the #1 Sooners. TCU should take out their frustrations on San Diego State.

TCU 38 San Diego State 3

TCU got exposed last week against #1 Oklahoma. They will come out wanting to prove the conference that they are still a contender for the conference championship. That doesn’t change the fact that TCU doesn’t have an offense. TCU’s defense scores a touchdown and wins this game for them. SDSU is not a good football team and that is going easy on them.

TCU 27 San Diego State 14

Wyoming @ New Mexico 7:30 PM MT The Mtn

Wyoming is really bad, and they don't have a quarterback. The problem for the Lobos is they don't have a quarterback either. The Lobos were only able to get 55 yards through the air against New Mexico State last weekend. New Mexico's rushing game and defense will carry the Lobos at home this weekend against a bad Wyoming team.

New Mexico 28 Wyoming 13

Losing at home by 29 points to Bowling Green is bad. Wyoming = bad. Can New Mexico’s running attack carry them long enough for their new starting QB to settle in? This week, yes…not sure about the rest of the season.

New Mexico 35 Wyoming 7

#14 Ohio State @ #18 Wisconsin 6 PM MT ABC

Wisconsin was exposed against a down Michigan team, and Ohio State is looking better now that Beanie Wells is back from injury. Both teams are ranked far too high in the polls, but Ohio State will come out on top this weekend.

Ohio State 31 Wisconsin 13

Ohio State is starting a true freshman at QB and Beanie Wells doesn’t look like he is running at 100%. Wisconsin lost a tough one last week in Ann Arbor without their two best receivers/TEs. Wisconsin is better than they showed last week. If they can utilize their power running game to set up the pass to their All-American tight end then it could be a long game for the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin 24 Ohio State 21

#23 Oregon @ #9 USC 6PM MT ABC

USC played with no passion against the Beavers last Thursday. Look for the Trojans to want to make a statement this weekend against the Ducks.

USC 42 Oregon 13

USC is much better than they played last week against Oregon State. They have been humiliated two straight years against mediocre unranked Pac 10 teams. They definitely have something to prove this week. They also have the revenge factor after losing at Oregon last year by 7. Oregon looked good last week but they will need a huge game from their QB to get by USC.

USC 27 Oregon 10

#13 Auburn @ #19 Vanderbilt 4PM MT ESPN

This is Vanderbilt's opportunity to prove they belong in the top 25. It will be a tough task to move the ball against Auburn's defense. Auburn will be too much for Vanderbelt to handle.

Auburn 27 Vanderbilt 10

Auburn’s offense is bad and their defense is awesome. If it wasn’t for a fumble recovery in the end zone, Auburn would have lost to Tennessee last week. Vanderbilt has come out of nowhere and is ranked in the top 25. If Vanderbilt can score more than 21 points, then I think they can win. But I think Auburn’s defense is going to dominate this game.

Auburn 17 Vanderbilt 10

GAME OF THE WEEK
Florida State @ Miami 1:30 PM MT ABC

The battle of the Florida thug schools. The real question is will the teams score more points than police officers on the field. Police officers are nothing new to either of these football teams. Miami is still in the process of rebuilding, and Florida State looks to have the advantage in this game.

Florida State 17 Miami 10

This game used to be one of the best games of the year. Who could forget the classic “wide right” and “wide left” games! Fortunately both of these teams have been improving. Both teams are still very talented and play tough physical defense. They are both looking for consistency from their QB. Sometimes things don’t change…Miami wins by “wide right”.

Miami 17 Florida State 14

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The Big Podcast Episode 4 - Bye Week Special Edition

Have a listen to the Bye Week Special Edition of the Big Podcast...

In the bye week edition of the Big Podcast we discuss...

• BYU's jump to 7 and 8 in the polls
• Break down of the top 25 rankings
• The upcoming BYU game against USU
• Utah versus Oregon State
• Mark's "moment of silence" for the Mets being eliminated from the playoffs (a must listen)
• Break down of the season premiere of the Office and Heroes, among other TV shows

Download here (right click and save as...) or listen with the player below...

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The Big Podcast Episode Two

Week of September 7-13 of The Big Podcast...

This week's big podcast we discuss the result of the BYU Washington game. Cousin Larry is invited to the Welling Roundtable and he discusses Utah and Utah State football. We also break down the weeks college games and then the BYU vs. UCLA game. Sharing what we thought would take place in that game.

The podcast can be downloaded here (right-click and save target as...).

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