BYU is a very good basketball team. They are ranked No. 13 in the country and are 16-2 with their only two losses coming against No. 2 UConn in the Huskies' backyard and to No. 12 Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Utah, on the other hand, is struggling in Alex Jensen's first year as head coach. The Utes are 9-10 and are widely considered to be the worst squad in the 16-team Big 12 conference.
These two rivals met just two weeks ago in Salt Lake City, and BYU escaped with a hard-fought five-point win. Most BYU fans experienced approximately 40 minutes of dread throughout that game, concerned that Kevin Young's juggernaut could do the inconceivable and lose to their very mediocre rival.
For those BYU fans who nearly had heart attacks two weeks ago, I have good news: You can relax this time around.
The Cougars are going to run the Utes out of the Marriott Center.
Why BYU will dominate Utah
The main reason the game two weeks ago was so tight was because BYU had a terrible night shooting the basketball. The Cougars shot just 23% from the 3-point line (6-of-26) and 66% from the free throw line (19-of-29).
On the season BYU is shooting 35% from the 3-point line and 75% from the free throw line. In other words, the Cougars "lost" about 12 points by shooting below their season averages, missing an additional three 3-pointers and three free throws in Salt Lake.
BYU's Big Three of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Robert Wright shot a combined 4-of-16 from the 3-point line.
Expect much, much better shooting from the Cougars in the friendly confines of the Marriott Center.
Kevin Young is a master of adjustments
The second reason to expect a Cougars blowout victory is because of coach Kevin Young's ability to adapt, adjust, and then dominate opponents. While his team is often frustratingly slow out of the gate in many games, the "second half Cougars" are a real thing. Kevin Young and his staff are master tacticians and have already seen what Utah can throw at them.
Expect BYU to be firing on all cylinders and exploiting mismatches from the jump.
To be candid, it's not usually in my nature to predict BYU winning in blowout fashion, regardless of the opponent, and especially against Utah. I tend to be more conservative in my predictions, even pessimistic at times. But as the Cougars prepare to face the Utes for a second time this season, I feel surprisingly confident predicting a good shooting night in the Marriott Center and outstanding coaching on the sidelines.
BYU in a rout.