BYU not only lost last week on the scoreboard to Utah State but they also lost their identity with Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback, Taysom Hill going down with a season-ending injury. How do the Cougars bounce back? Will the bounce back?
BYU has a tough test tonight in a game against the UCF Knights in Orlando. The Cougars have never won in the Sunshine State, could they get it done tonight?
Here are some last minute predictions to get you ready for tonight’s game.
BYU’s offense with Christian Stewart will look similar to the 2007 offense
The 2007 BYU offense with first-year quarterback Max Hall was a game management offense. Robert Anae was the architect of that offense then, and he should incorporate a similar game plan with Christian Stewart in tonight’s game against the Knights.
In the 2007 opener against Arizona, Anae put Hall in situations to get the ball in his playmakers hands. That was wide receiver Austin Collie and running back Harvey Unga. Stewart has Jordan Leslie at receiver and Jamaal Williams in the backfield.
Jamaal Williams will get 25+ carries
The past few weeks the fans haven’t been able to do the “Swagdaddy” when watching Jamaal play, he isn’t getting the ball enough.
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Last week against the Aggies, Williams carried the ball 17 times. Expect that number to go up significantly tonight in Orlando.
I’d like to go bold and say Williams carries the football more than 30 times tonight, but you have to be reasonable. I’d expect that Jamaal gets 25 to 28 carries tonight for the Cougars. It’s needed to relieve Stewart who is going to have difficulties moving the ball through the air against the Knights.
BYU’s defense will respond with their backs against the wall & record at least one sack
The past three games we’ve chinks in the chain for the BYU defense. Oddly enough, all three of those games came in the comfortable confines of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Statistically and in terms of points allowed, BYU’s best performances this season have came away from Provo this season in weeks one and two against UConn and Texas respectively.
The defense suffers a major blow with strong side linebacker Alani Fua suffering an ankle injury. How much will he play, if at all? But I’d expect this defense to answer the bell after all the scrutiny they received since last Friday against the in-state Aggies. I’ll even say the BYU defense gets at least one sack tonight. They’ve only recorded one sack in the past three games, so that would be a big deal if they can get one.
BYU will have under seven penalties
BYU has been the most penalized in all of football to this point of the season. What we thought was a fluke against Connecticut in week one, has become BYU’s identity through five games. Two offside penalties against Utah State potentially cost BYU the game last week.
In this short week of preparation, I’d expect that the staff has hit home the importance of playing smart football. The offensive line has only had one false start this season. It’s the costly personal foul calls that have hurt BYU. I’d expect them to cut down on those mistakes tonight.
UCF 23, BYU 17
This is only UCF’s second home game of the season. The UCF crowd is going to have a blackout for the nationally televised game, the only game in College Football tonight. BYU shows signs of life on the offensive side with Stew at QB, but it isn’t enough in a hostile environment down in Orlando. Knights squeak out a 23-17 win in a competitive football game that stays competitive for a full 60 minutes.