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The Cougars remain 22nd in the latest BCS Standings, and remain third of the three rated MWC teams, trailing TCU (4) and Utah (21).
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Playing winless New Mexico didn't help, but four of the six BCS computer rankings don't have BYU in their Top 25. BYU's average computer ranking of 27th is the lowest of all teams in the current BCS Standings; the computers are negatively balancing BYU's human poll numbers (18th in Harris and Coaches' polls).
BYU's highest computer ranking is 18th (Colley Martix); Utah's highest computer ranking is 11th (Billingsley). All of the computers have TCU ranked 4th or 5th.
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Stat notes: Max Hall is one of only two quarterbacks nationally (Case Keenum, Houston) in the top ten in all four of the following categories:
Passing Yards/Game: 9th
Passing Efficiency: 2nd
Total Offense: 9th
Points Responsible For: 10th
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CB Brian Logan is third nationally in total passes defended (15).
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BYU is 12th in passing offense, scoring offense and total offense.
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Impressive Air Force numbers:
5th in 3rd down defense (BYU is 1st in offensive 3rd down efficiency)
2nd in turnovers lost; 11th in turnovers gained; 3rd in turnover margin (BYU is 69th, 75th and 78th in the same categories, respectively)
1st nationally in passing yards allowed; 10th in pass efficiency defense (BYU is 12th in passing yards gained; 3rd in pass efficiency)
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The early forecast calls for snow and temperatures in the thirties for Saturday afternoon's game with the Falcons.
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BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and UNLV's Mike Sanford were hired to their first head coaching jobs in 2005; had Mendenhall not been given the BYU job, he had what amounted to a standing offer to coach Sanford's defense in Las Vegas. Oh, what might have been...
At 4-7, Sanford has been fired, after securing a fifth straight losing season. His overall record is 15-43. UNLV will miss the postseason for a 9th straight season.
In the meantime, Mendenhall is now 46-15--the best record of any coach hired to his first FBS head coaching job in 2005. Mendenhall has yet to finish any season with a losing record, and will lead BYU to its fifth straight bowl bid, and possibly a fourth consecutive 10-plus win season.
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Colorado Springs Gazette columnist David Ramsey is at it again.
Ramsey never misses a chance to rip on BYU, and with the Cougars next on the Cadets' schedule, he's in his element. Among his latest offerings:
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"BYU's offense is run by 24-year-old Max Hall, one of the better quarterbacks in college football, and if you don't believe me, Max would be happy to confirm this view. No one ever accused Max of lacking confidence."
(Note the age reference, a common and tired tactic when referring to BYU players. And when was the last time you heard Hall bragging about his abilities? Ramsey is wrong to accuse Hall of conceit)
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"This season, BYU was the most overrated No. 7 team in my lifetime. The Cougars beat a crippled Oklahoma squad and everyone got excited before BYU revealed its true self."
(I'm confident that if Ramsey looked hard enough, he could find a more overrated team, but he may not find one he enjoys bashing as much as BYU)
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The BYU hoopsters face Idaho State on Tuesday night in Provo; tonight, the Bengals played and lost at Bradley, by a score of 74-69.
BYU and Idaho State will be in the interesting position of having both played Bradley in the game immediately preceding their Marriott Center meeting.
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