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(KSL Sports)This is college football at its best. This is what rivalries are all about. Never in the history of this seething rivalry has more been on the line for both teams.
The #14 BYU Cougars (10-1, 6-1 MWC) want a piece of the conference title for a third straight year and keep their slim BCS hopes alive. The #7 Utah Utes (11-0, 7-0 MWC) are a win away from an almost guaranteed spot in a BCS bowl game and an outright conference championship, something they haven't done since they were in the BCS mix in 2004.
The Cougars are coming off an impressive showing on the road against the Air Force Falcons, which boosted their confidence and propelled them three spots up in the BCS rankings.
The Utes used their game against a bad San Diego St. team to fine tune for this weekend's showdown against BYU.
Only 45 miles separate two of this year's best non-BCS teams and allegiances bleed into enemy territory. Bragging rights, on and off the field, are as stake.
KSL takes a look back and a look ahead as we prep for game day.
What did we learn about BYU vs. Air Force?
- Austin Collie is one of the best game-changing receivers in college football
- Max Hall is a playmaker. He may gamble to make those plays at times, but his record-setting single season numbers show he is among the best QBs BYU has ever produced.
- The defense is returning to its effective bend-don't break form from the beginning of the season
- BYU can beat a team with a winning record. The Cougars only has three above-.500 FBS teams on its schedule, and after the TCU game, BYU needed to know they could beat a good team on the road.
What questions do we have about BYU?
- Will the offensive line struggle against Utah's speed like it did against TCU?
- Will the Cougars be prepared mentally and emotionally for this type of game?
- Will the defense make any big plays?
- How healthy and effective will Dennis Pitta and Harvey Unga be?
- Will Hall, Collie and the other receivers be able to take advantage of Utah's over-aggressive single coverage?
What can BYU expect from Utah?
- An unspectacular, but opportunistic offense
- Multiple gadget plays
- A fast, aggressive defense
- A constant battle for field position (Louie Sakoda)
- A nasty, raucous crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium
What can we expect from BYU vs. Utah?
- More of Collie behind center
- More of Collie returning punts
- More of Collie everywhere else.
- More emotion than the Cougars displayed against TCU
- More points than last season's 17 the Cougars scored versus Utah
Miscellaneous:
- BYU has won 20 of its last 21 games overall. The Utes have won 19 of their last 20.
- BYU has won the last two rivalry games by a combined 9 points (2006: 33-31, 2007: 17-10)
- Since 1988 the BYU-Utah series is tied at 10-10.
- The winning margin in 10 of the last 11 BYU-Utah meetings (2004 being the exception) is 7 points or fewer.
- BYU has defeated Utah in 4 of the last 6 Salt Lake City meetings, and in 6 of the last 9 on the hill.
- The home team has lost 12 of the last 18 meetings.
- BYU has been ranked in the Top 20 in every weekly poll this season (including the preseason poll). The last time BYU was in the Top 20 from the preseason through the end of the bowl season was 1990.
- Utah leads BYU in 20 of the 30 MWC statistical categories. In all but one year since 1990, the team that has led more stat categories has won the annual rivalry game.
- With 34 receiving yards, Collie will surpass Eric Drage's career receiving yardage record of 3,056 yards, which has stood since 1993. Collie is already BYU's new single-season receiving yardage leader, is tied for the single-season receiving touchdown record and has set the career receiving touchdown record.
Conclusion:
BYU needs to be at its best to beat a very good Utah team. The Cougars cannot afford to turn the ball over and must play to their strengths to win on the road. Max Hall must avoid the type of near-fatal mistakes he made against Colorado St. and Air Force and Austin Collie must be a big part of the offense for the Cougars to succeed.
This is college football at its best. This is what rivalries are all about.
Kick-off of the game is at 4 p.m. from Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 22. Pregame coverage of the game can be heard on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM beginning at 2 p.m.
You can listen to and watch Greg Wrubell call the game on KSL.com by clicking on the Radio tab and clicking chat below the Now Live picture in the upper right hand corner.
