Prediction time is here, gather around the computer my fellow college football fanatics.
Let's hope this season is as good as 2008, when I successfully called each of Utah's regular-season games. That's not to say I predicted in August the Utes would be 12-0 in, but rather I picked them each week before every game.
While I did expect Alabama to win, I had the Utes covering the spread.
For BYU, the only game I missed was the Las Vegas Bowl. There's something about not ever being able to pick Arizona in anything.
Here we go:
Utah State at Utah
I'm on board with believing that Gary Andersen will do great things with the Aggies, I don't see it beginning Thursday night. Excluding Rocky Long, who also was New Mexico's head coach, I think Andersen was the Mountain West's best defensive coordinator during his stint serving under Kyle Whittingham. For that season, I expect the Aggies to be much more mentally tough than what we've seen in recent years.
But Andersen has no Paul Kruger or Sean Smith at his disposal as he did at Utah. Although quarterback Diondre Borel and running back Robert Turbin provide USU with a decent foundation on offense, I don't expect either to perform consistently well against Utah's defense.
Look for Stevenson Slyvester and friends to spend a good portion of the game in USU's backfield. Utah's quickness, which overwhelmed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, shouldn't suffer much of a drop off even after losing Kruger and Smith to the NFL, along with Brice McCain.
If defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake is anywhere close to being right - he said on the DJ and PK in the offseason that Utah's cornerbacks would be better than Smith and McCain - then Utah's defense again will be stellar. Hard to believe that statement will be true, at least not this early in the season.
The most interesting aspect of this game will be Utah's offense. Can Terrance Cain (don't we all believe he will start at quarterback) be effective?
Against the Aggies, the answer will be yes. But check back in three weeks when the Utes travel to Eugene to play Oregon.
Even if Cain or Jordan Wynn struggle, as long as Matt Asiata stays healthy Utah's offense should have success against the likes of USU and the lower-tier Mountain West teams. With all due respect to BYU's Harvey Unga, Asiata should prove to be the MWC's best running back.
As is the case seemingly every season, I expect Utah's receiving corps to be fine. Somewhere in that group of eight, which Whittingham loves, another Freddie Brown will emerge.
Considering the Utes have to break in a new quarterback, the schedule sets up perfectly with two tune-ups (next week is at San Jose State) before playing the Ducks.
Utah's win streak improves to 15. Utah 31, USU 10
BYU vs. Oklahoma at Arlington, Texas
The MWC vs. the Big 12 - on paper, a clear mismatch. On the field, we shall see.
But there's no doubt the Sooners should be favored. And they are, by as much as 21 points by some oddsmakers.
Oklahoma is eyeing the national championship, while BYU wants to make its first-ever appearance in a BCS bowl.
Four pre-season All-Americans, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford, didn't blow off NFL money for the chance to play in the Fiesta or Sugar bowls. BYU has won at least 10 games in each of the last three seasons but only has bids to the Las Vegas Bowl to show for it.
Interesting, the strength of both teams are the same. They each boast outstanding quarterbacks - Bradford and Max Hall, tight ends (OU's Jermaine Gresham and BYU's Dennis Pitta), a great offensive lineman (BYU's Matt Reynolds and OU's Trent Williams) and defensive lineman (OU's Gerald McCoy and BYU's Jan Jorgensen).
And both teams feature a 1,000-yard rusher, or in the case of Oklahoma, two 1,000-yard rushers.
The key will be protecting the quarterback. Each team returns only one starter along the offensive line. Both teams are fighting injuries there - OU may start a converted tight end at center; Reynolds has a fractured hand, and Jason Speredon was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
I believe BYU's offensive line is good enough to give Hall enough time to throw the ball. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae will adjust the game plan with quick timing routes.
BYU, which plays a 3-4, returns six starters up front, but is green at cornerbacks. Look for for Bradford to exploit BYU's obvious weakness.
OU's defense is arguably the best in the nation. Only the safeties are inexperienced.
No BYU fan - or Ute fan, for that matter, will forget the nightmare that TCU's and Utah's speed on defense created last season. Much as been made of BYU's lack of speed on defense last year (which I believe has been improved this season), but I don't see BYU's offense being any faster.
While the Cougars should be able to compete with OU, the Sooners' dream of a national title will remain alive.
Oklahoma 38, BYU 24
