BYU has what could prove to be their toughest schedule in history...and possibly their most important season. Before I made this prediction, I watched a recording of the Poinsettia Bowl. The offense only performed well against dismal defenses in 2012, except for the Georgia Tech game. The defense performed well in 11 and 1/2 games. The 4th quarter of the Oregon State game and the 1st quarter of the San Jose State game were exceptions. In order to make the BCS, BYU will have to perform as well on defense and the offense will need to make a dramatic improvement. They will also need a good showing to impress, say, people in the Big 12 to be certain that they are in the top division of college football after the dust settles. Here is my prediction.
August 31--@ Virginia
This will be the 4th meeting between the two schools. So far, this series, except for the 1987 All America Bowl, has belonged to the visitors. The Cavaliers have not been a force in the ACC for a few seasons and this probably will not be the year they turn it around. Expect a Cougar win.
September 7--Texas
Texas is the perennial Big 12 favorite and the way the Longhorns have been playing the past few seasons, one has to wonder why they continue to get this honor. Don't mess with Texas is an anti-litter campaign. BYU will have to play their best football to win this game, but the optimist believes that they are capable of that. This is the first of three must-win games for BYU
September 21--Utah
The Utes are a little bit weak this season, that is no secret. But it doesn't matter when these two teams meet on the gridiron. This will be a close game, but the Cougars should pull this one out. This is the 2nd must-win game of the season.
September 27--Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders aren't a power, but this is the classic trap game. They get BYU between their in-state rivalry games. This will be closer than many BYU fans will be comfortable with, but still a cougar win.
October 4--@ Utah State
Very possible that this game will be between two ranked and unbeaten foes. The winner of this game will get a lot of "BCS Buster" love from the national press. A loss for the Aggies will not kill their BCS hopes. Any loss for the Cougars could be fatal to those chances this season. Both teams will leave it all on the field, but I will give this one to the home team. This is the third of three must-win games for the cougars in 2013.
At this point of the season, BYU could be 2-3, which would be a disaster as they would be fighting just for bowl eligibility. But they should be 4-1.
October 12--Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets will give BYU a tougher game this season than last season, but it still won't be all that close.
October 19--@ Houston
The Cougars will win. The Cougars will relish the atmosphere of playing at Reliant Stadium and Elder Gifford Neilsen will carry the alumni flag and it should be BYU all the way.
October 25--Boise State
This is where the season really gets difficult. BSU will really be pushing to keep their win streak against the Cougars. But even with a short week, this game should be a close one. Boise State is still who they are and I don't see a Cougar win in this one.
November 9--@ Wisconsin
The Cougars will have an extra 9 days to get ready for the badgers. When you have a defense like BYU does, you can make any game close and winnable, but I do not see BYU winning in Camp Randall against a good Wisconsin team.
November 16--Idaho State
I don't see the Bengals giving the Cougars much of a game for very long. They lost the best player they've had in years (Roderick Rumble) and are even worse without him. It will be a nice break for the Cougar starters.
November 23--@ Notre Dame
Toward the end of the season, it is a little bit more difficult to predict a game like this. Notre Dame has had some off-season difficulty, but many still predict great things out of the Irish. That is part of the advantage of being Notre Dame. I expect another tight game that the Irish will win.
November 30--@ Nevada
Chris Ault, the pioneer of the Pistol Offense has retired for the third time and Nevada is not as strong this year as usual. The Wolfpack will make a more a good opponent for Kyle Van Noy to finish his collegiate career in his home town. BYU will win and since this is Nevada, the smart bet is that KVN will score a defensive TD for the home-town crowd.
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl--BYU will get a crack at a USC team that is in disarray due to the firing of Coach Lane Kiffin and a disappointing season. The scenario is similar to what happened in the Copper Bowl many years ago against Oklahoma, and will produce a similar result in BYU running away with the game in the 2nd half.
Prediction: 9-4
Even thought the record is only slightly improved over 2012, the actual team will be much improved and will give fans a sense of optimism going into 2014 with a more realistic schedule.
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