BYU Football: The worst and best case scenarios for the Cougars
By Adam Gibby
Game 7: Mississippi State
Worst Case Scenario: The Bulldogs have not forgotten this game. In all honesty they probably should have won last year, but luck kept hitting the Cougars. Not this year though. Beau Hoge has his best game of the season, but it is not enough to stop Nick Fitzgerald and the Mississippi State offense. The Cougars suffer yet another defeat.
Final Score 31-21 Loss (2-5, ranked No. 8 on ESPN’s Bottom 10)
Best Case Scenario: BYU is in the top 10 after a big win over Boise State the week before. With an extra day of rest, the Cougars are prepared for the rematch. Nick Fitgerald and Tanner Mangum exchange touchdowns and the game goes into overtime for the second straight year. BYU wins on an interception after the Cougars score on their first possession.
Final Score 45-42 OT Win (6-1, ranked No. 9)
Game 8: East Carolina
Worst Case Scenario: Despite being 2-5, there is optimism for the Cougars. The rest of the season, the Cougars have teams that should be easy wins. That is not the case in East Carolina however. With the defense down five starters to injury, and the offense down its two best players, this turns into a closer game than BYU fans would like to see. Beau Hoge and KJ Hall do enough though to give the Cougars their third win of the season.
Final Score 28-24 Win (3-5, not ranked)
Best Case Scenario: This is a tough turnaround for the Cougars. Traveling to Mississippi, coming back to Provo and leaving back to North Carolina all within eight days take a toll on the Cougars. Also, some of the players seem to feel that the season is already over as the hard part of the season is done. The game is close at halftime, but Mangum explodes in the second half and ends with over 400 yards passing.
Final Score 45-31 Win (7-1, ranked No. 7)