green, I acknowledge your analysis and think it absolutely makes sense. I also question why a BYU fan would be supremely confident heading into the game. Everything you're pointing out is seated in firm logic.
But it should be noted that I'm asking who amongst us is supremely confident, not BYU fans. Even knowing all that you point out, I can't be supremely confident. I just can't. It's a rivalry game. Anything can happen.
I don't blame you for being supremely confident. I'm glad someone is. I would love nothing more than another 54-10 blowout.
I was extremely confident before the Vegas Bowl. I thought we'd blow their socks off, which we did in 8 minutes. That was shocking.
I don't think this will be another Vegas Bowl. I don't think Sitake and Detmer will let it be another one. They will try to do what they did against Arizona:
Control time of possession, have no TO's, wait for Utah to make a mistake and hopefully capitalize.
If we don't turn the ball over, we beat them easily. Like 30-13. If we turn the ball over, the score gets closer.
It all comes down to Troy and Joe. Will they play Utah ball and limit turnovers and trust their defense? Or will they make dumb plays and keep BYU in the game?
I think this is the game where BYU fan loses their minds. They are expecting Ty to open up the offense and put up 50 on Utah and go back to the WAC days.
The reality is this: Kalani was with Utah when Utah went from the MWC to the PAC-12. Kalani knows how to beat teams that are a lot more talented than you are: Limit possessions, play tough defense, make no mistakes on offense. Kalani will handicap Ty like Whitt did until the offense gets more talented players.
When BYU loses by 10 points tomorrow and Jamaal gets 30+ carries and Hill doesn't throw the ball 40+ times...It will be glorious to hear BYU throw Ty under the bus.