Thursday, November 5, 2015

Predictions/Expectations November 6/7

It's another swell week of college football ahead of us, and we are now in the critical last 1/3 of the football season.  Here is how I think the rest of the season will go.

BYU Cougars

Current Record: 6-2

Probable Wins

San Jose State
Fresno State

Toss Up

Missouri
Utah State

Optimistic prediction: 10-2
Pessimistic prediction: 8-4

This week's game:

Every year, a Bronco Mendenhall coached team will lose a game they should win.  No one expected BYU to beat UCLA or Michigan, and therefore, that loss hasn't happened yet.  San Jose State is built a lot like UCLA, but they are not as deep.  BYU should beat them handily, but this does have the earmarks of one of those upset games.  Again, I don't think that BYU will lose, I'm just saying don't be surprised if something else happens.

My prediction: BYU 42 SJSU 28

Post-season: Vegas

Utah Utes

Current Record: 7-1

Predicted wins:

Washington
Arizona
Colorado

Toss Up:

UCLA

Optimistic Prediction: 11-1
Pessimistic Prediction: 10-2

This week's game:

Utah has a chance to get another monkey off of their back this weekend in Seattle.  The Utah Utes have NEVER beaten the Washington Huskies in 8 previous tries.  Also curious, 7 of the 8 prior meetings have been in Seattle, and only 1 in Salt Lake City.  However, Kyle Whittingham is probably focused on this week's game and not on the history and has probably instructed his team to do the same.  The Huskies are good enough to beat the Utes, even with a 4-4 team taking on a 7-1 team.  The difference should be special teams, and Ute fans know who that favors.

Utah 27 Washington 24

Post season smells like roses.

Utah State Aggies

Current Record 5-3

Projected Wins

New Mexico
Air Force
Nevada

Toss Up

BYU

Optimistic Prediction: 9-3
Pessimistic Prediction: 8-4

This week's game:

This is another game where the Aggies could easily look past to their detriment.  However, it's not the Lobos year, nor the year before that...it's like sometime about 5 years ago, New Mexico and Utah State switched.

USU 38 UNM 10

Southern Utah Thunderbirds

Current Record: 6-2

Projected wins:

Northern Arizona

Toss Up:

Montana State
Portland State

Optimistic Prediction: 9-2
Pessimistic Prediction: 7-4

This week's game:

Every week I say that SUU is due for a close one, and every week they blow someone out of the water.  This week, they are really going to be in a barn burner.  At least they hope it's a barn burner, because the weather in Bozeman at this time of year is very cold.  Actually, it won't be too bad, a high of 43.  Could be worse.

SUU 31 MSU 28

Weber State Wildcats

Current Record 4-5

Projected wins

UC Davis
Idaho State

Projected finish: 6-5

This week's game:

WSU 48 UCD 10

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Swagger Report--After Halloween is over

Utah State 58 Wyoming 27

The USU Aggies added more misery to what has already been a long season for the Wyoming Cowboys and rolled the visitors from Laramie.  Devante Mays was one of many offensive heroes for USU as he ran for 176 yards.  USU has not lost at home since Kyle Van Noy dismantled them two years ago.

USU MVP: RB Devante Mays

Utah 27 Oregon State 12

Sometimes when you have a bounce back game you need to win ugly.  It wasn't a pretty win for the Utes, but it was a dominating win.  It was much closer statistically than was indicated by the final score, proving what really matters in football, how often the fans get a hot dog break.  Now, with the USC loss officially behind them, they can concentrate on the Huskies.

Utah MVP: RB Devontae Booker

Southern Utah 54 Cal Poly 37

The Thunderbirds came a step closer to the Big Sky Conference championship this weekend with a big win over Cal Poly.  The difference, as usually for SUU, was the defense, scoring 21 points.  Without the defensive effort, the Mustangs would have won.

SUU MVP: LB Mike Needham

Eastern Washington 14 Weber State 13

WSU held EWU to their worst offensive outing in 12 years, holding the Eagles to just 189 yards.  WSU missed long field goals that would have won the game for them, but you can't fault PK Josh Kaelamakia's effort.  This year, at least Weber State has risen from conference doormat to being the team that others can't look past.  WSU closes out the season with two games at home, winning both would give the a winning record for the season, something that they haven't done for 5 years.

WSU MVP: S Josh Burton