Map shows the divide in the BYU/Utah rivalry

Map shows the divide in the BYU/Utah rivalry

(Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — It's the annual week where fans all along the Wasatch Front declare their loyalty between BYU and Utah. Even if you don't follow football, it seems everyone expects you to pick a side.

With the two schools foregoing games for the next two years, the bragging rights among fans are at an all time high.

However, if you're unsure about a side, and don't want to be ostracized by your neighbors, one Utahn has made it easy for you to pick a team.

Looking at Facebook likes for the two teams, Kelly Francis, of Aero-Graphics, has compiled the data and has mapped the neighborhoods — all for you as the fan, who can't stand to be next to the opposing fan (this week).

"I thought it would be fun to see where the dividing line is with BYU/Utah fans," Francis said. "It is all Facebook likes. It's not really that scientific, but it kind of gives you an indication of which way fans are leaning."

Map shows the divide in the BYU/Utah rivalry
Photo: Kelly Francis

That data will come in handy for you if you're leaning for the Cougars and are looking to buy a house in Cottonwood Heights, which predominantly has Utah fans. Of the residents living in Cottonwood Heights, 72.7 percent of residents are fans of Utah.

If you can get past your Utah neighbors, you'll probably enjoy these fans who will only look down upon you for a week — unless BYU wins the rivalry game, and then you're in trouble.

If you're leaning toward Utah, you probably want to stay clear of Highland, which has 85.5 percent of residents favoring the Cougars. Who knows, though, maybe you want to cause some problems and be the one who aggravates your BYU neighbors.

And if you just want to live where everyone gets along, or at least it appears as though they do, South Jordan is the place to live. There are more Utah fans in the city, but by the slightest of margins at 50.3 percent. Either way, take note.

"It's not really that scientific, but it kind of gives you an indication of which way fans are leaning," Francis added.

If there is one thing about the data, though, BYU fans in Provo (92.2 percent) are bigger fans of the Cougars than Utah fans in Salt Lake City (71 percent) are of the Utes — simple facts based on Facebook. Let that sink in before the comment boards go crazy.


BYU vs. Utah fans divided
**City****BYU****% BYU****Utah****% Utah****City****BYU****% BYU****Utah****% Utah**
Provo1960092.216607.8Elk Ridge14088.11911.9
Alpine78086.712013.3Woodland Hills12086.31913.7
Highland94085.516014.5Pleasant Grove192083.538016.5
Mapleton50083.310016.7Cedar Hills58082.912017.1
Springville164082.834017.2Orem660082.5140017.5
Spanish Fork186080.944019.1Lindon76080.918019.1
Salem50080.612019.4American Fork168078.546021.5
Genola6075.91924.1Harrisville6075.91924.1
South Weber18075.06025.0Payson82073.230026.8
Saratoga Springs108072.042028.0Pleasant View20071.48028.6
Morgan24070.610029.4Lehi260070.3110029.7
Midway14070.06030.0Santaquin32069.614030.4
Eden4067.81932.2Mountain Green4067.81932.2
Kaysville104067.550032.5Hooper12066.76033.3
Eagle Mountain88064.748035.3Sunset6060.04040.0
Centerville46056.136043.9Layton168054.9138045.1
Plain City12054.510045.5Farmington64054.254045.8
Clinton36052.932047.1Heber City44052.440047.6
Grantsville30051.728048.3Syracuse72051.468048.6
South Jordan190049.7192050.3Riverton118048.4126051.6
Draper128048.1138051.9South Ogden16047.118052.9
West Haven14046.716053.3Ogden156046.2182053.8
Stansbury Park22045.826054.2Bountiful106044.5132055.5
Herriman78043.8100056.2Bluffdale14043.818056.3
West Point20043.526056.5North Salt Lake46043.460056.6
Washington Terrace6042.98057.1South Salt Lake6042.98057.1
Riverdale10041.714058.3North Ogden24041.434058.6
Farr West8040.012060.0Fruit Heights8040.012060.0
Clearfield34039.552060.5Roy50038.580061.5
Sandy200038.5320061.5Taylorsville60038.098062.0
Woods Cross24037.540062.5Kearns32037.254062.8
Tooele68037.0116063.0West Bountiful10035.718064.3
West Jordan200034.5380065.5Midvale32034.062066.0
Millcreek1932.24067.8East Millcreek1932.24067.8
West Valley City104032.1220067.9Holladay26031.756068.3
Murray62031.6134068.4Salt Lake City1060029.02600071.0
Park City24027.962072.1Cottonwood Heights24027.364072.7
Magna28026.976073.1
Credit: Kelly Francis

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SportsUtahBYU CougarsUtah Utes
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