So, BYU and Utah just met mere months ago in the Vegas Bowl. What has changed since then?
QB: BYU is better or the same, depending on how hard you've hitched your wagon to Hea...I mean Mangum. I'll go with better. Utah is better as well. So, how does this compare to the Vegas Bowl? Either you believe Mangum is significantly better than Wilson or you don't. If you believe Mangum is significantly better than Wilson, then Utah has gotten better and has improved the most since Vegas.
Verdict: Equal or Utah has improved the most.
RB: Joe Williams vs Jamaal Williams. Jamaal has improved BYU. Joe is the same. BUT, McCormick has improved Utah. Has Jamaal's improvement been greater than Troy's? We will find out this weekend.
Verdict: Wash. Utah had no depth at RB. Now they do. BYU had decent runners, but now they have a legit #1.
WR: BYU has gotten worse. They lost their 2-3 top receivers from last year. They do have some talent, but not as good as what they had in Vegas...yet. Utah is better.
Verdict: Utah is better.
TE: BYU might have a solid pass catching TE. Their TE's suck at blocking. Utah has legit starting TE's.
Verdict: Utah is better.
OL: BYU has taken a very large step backwards. They lost Matthews and Wilcox. They are starting three players with zero division 1 offers. Utah did lose Lutui, which was a blow. But they added 5 star LT Bolles. At worst, Utah is just as good.
Verdict: Utah is better.
DL: BYU has lost Kaufusi and Tuiloma. Utah has...3-6 NFL players on their DL.
Verdict: Utah is better.
LB: Utah has lost Paul, Norris and Whittingham.
Verdict: BYU is better.
CB: Utah was better before, has brought everyone back, and is still better.
Verdict: Utah is better.
S: Utah did lose Tevin Carter. But, Carter lost his job to Hansen when Hansen was healthy. Nacua isn't as good as Williams, and if you believe Whitt and Scalley and Hansen is better than Carter, then Hansen is better than Hannemann.
Verdict: Utah is better.
ST's: Wishnowski just broke Hackett's single game punting record. Andy Phillips is Andy Phillips. Boobie Hobbs will break off a PR for a TD or two this year.
Verdict: Utah is better.
So, since the Vegas Bowl, BYU has improved in these areas: QB, RB. They are worse in WR, TE, OL, DL, CB. They are a wash in LB and S.
Utah has improved in QB, WR, TE, CB, S. They are worse in HB, LB. They are a wash in OL, DL.
I don't get why BYU fan is so confident. I haven't even gotten into home field or coaching. But Ty Detmer will save the day, right? Taysom Hill will run for 300 yards, right?