Here is why I think BYU has no shot in the game:
1 - This is Utah's first game of the year. And Utah gets a scrimmage the week before to get ready. It is BYU's second game of the year and the week previous they play Arizona. The Arizona game probably decides if BYU goes bowling or not. They won't be able to hide anything. They have to win that game. Oh, and Utah has extra days to prepare for BYU.
When BYU kicks off against Arizona, Utah will be 1-0 and a couple days into prep work for BYU. Since BYU takes Sundays off, by the time they get around to Utah, Utah will have a 4 day head start.
2 - Morgan Scalley has more D1 Experience than 9 of BYU's coaches combined. Bronco was an amazing coach. We have no idea how good or bad BYU's coaches. We've never seen ANY of them do anything. Except Sitake. And we trained him into what he is today.
3 - Our DL is a top 3 DL in the country. Their OL is very suspect.
4 - Our OL is a top 25 OL in the country. If not better. They are switching to a 4-3 from a 3-4. They are thin up front.
5 - While their LB'ers are good, our RB's are very good as well. Joe Williams had just as many rush yards a game as Booker when he was the full time starter. And McCormick was injured last year.
6 - Our LB'ers are solid. Not amazing, but solid. BUT, BYU's running backs are...solid. Maybe. In three seasons, Jamal Williams (vs P5 schools, I don't care what he did vs Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, etc) he had 204 carries for 826 yards and a 4.0 yards per carry. Very pedestrian.
In three games last year, Joe Williams had 80 carries and 405 yards at a 5 yards per carry clip. So, in three games, Utah's Williams has almost half the stats it took Jamal 12 games to amass.
7 - BYU is switching to a base man defense with very young corners. Experience plays a HUGE role in this. There is a reason why most of Utah's corners are JR's and SR's before they play. And Utah's WR's are much better than they were last year.
Patrick was hurt all last year. Whitt has said time and time again, that Patrick is an NFL caliber WR. And Whitt knows WR's better than BYU, seeing how he has put more WR's into the NFL than BYU has.
Many Utah players have said that Butler-Byrd is a better Covey.
Plus, our WR coach can't be any worse than it was last year.
Oh, and we have a amazing depth at TE.
8 - The last time Utah played BYU they stifled Taysom Hill. Quade Chappuis didn't let Hill do anything. Does BYU fan think Whitt will go away from that defense? And does BYU fan think that Marcus Williams or Chase Hansen isn't light years better than Chappuis?
9 - Did you not see the Vegas Bowl last year? That was a beat down. Credit to BYU for not quitting, but that was a BEAT down. BYU had no clue what hit them. Now, again, credit to BYU for not quitting, BYU made an admiral comeback, but never had a chance to even tie the game, let alone win it. Oh, and Utah players checked out after the first quarter.
If BYU fan is hanging their hat on the last two quarters of play...good luck with that. That is akin to being on the Titanic as it is sinking and not getting on a lifeboat because "the Titanic can't sink".
It's fools gold.
I fully expect Utah to win. I haven't even talked about how Utah players have had to hear about how "BYU is the better team, look at the 2nd half of the Vegas Bowl." Or the fact that Sitake is a very good recruiter and Whitt will not want to lose to BYU.
I don't expect Utah to blow BYU out. I believe Whitt has too much respect for Sitake to Joe Glenn him. I expect Utah to get up 2-3 scores and run the ball. I expect BYU to throw, throw, throw. I expect Utah to be up 2+ scores in the fourth quarter, like they always are, and BYU to get within one score and lose, like they always do.
Anyways, since the split of Utah from the MWC, Utah has recruited in the low 40's. BYU has been in the mid to upper 60's. We saw that in December.
Utah is on a different level now. Utah is a legit top 25 P5 team, that is bordering on a legit top 10 team. BYU isn't even a ranked team anymore.