College Football
Previews - NCAA Football Handicapping - Preview 2006 Betting
BYU Cougars
2006 Preview
Online
Predictions By:
Matt Fargo BYU Cougars Football Preview
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Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be
here before you know it so that means getting
an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.
Knowing the teams now will save you time in August
and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp
of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from
worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.
Fargo’s Take
- Could the glory days of the BYU teams
from the 80’s be resurfacing? It’s
very possible if the defense can grow up in a
hurry. The Cougars went to a bowl game last season
for the first time since 2001, the last year they
had a winning record. They played California very
tough and even though it resulted in a loss, some
solid momentum carries over into 2006. Head coach
Bronco Mendenhall guided BYU to a second place
finish in the MWC in his first season so now expectations
are even higher. The Cougars offense was one of
the best in the country in 2005 and they will
be scary good once again. The problem was the
defense that finished 91st in the country and
lost seven players to graduation. BYU has increased
its points allowed in each of the last three years
and if it has any chance of catching Utah and
TCU in the conference, the defense has to step
up. The offense has the potential to outscore
everyone but that likely won’t get the job
done every week.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 8 The Cougars finished
13th in the country in total offense and 24th
in scoring offense last season and those rankings
will be even better this year. The passing offense
was potent as quarterback John Beck had a sensational
season in his first year under the new offense.
The main reason that the offense was so good down
the stretch was due to the running game led by
Curtis Brown as he emerged as a big play threat.
After gaining more than 100 yards only once in
their first five games, the Cougars surpassed
176 yards in five of their final seven games.
The offensive line played a big role in that turnaround
and with four starters returning, there should
be no digression. The line is enormous, averaging
over 324 pounds. BYU possesses not one but two
of the best tight ends in the conference in Jonny
Harline and Daniel Coats.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 4 In BYU’s last
five losses a season ago, the defense allowed
an average of 41.4 ppg and that certainly will
not get the job done this year. The defense is
inexperienced with only four starters returning
but a new scheme should help. The Cougars are
switching from a 3-3-5 to a 3-4 and if the spring
was any indication, the move should help right
away. The unit made great progress by the end
of spring drills, especially in the secondary.
BYU finished 104th in passing defense last year
but with three seniors and a junior starting,
the secondary should be much stronger. The real
concern this year is the defensive line where
no starters are back and freshmen are going to
have to contribute right away. Getting pressure
on the quarterback is important in this new scheme
and the athletic linebacking corps should do just
that.
Schedule
- The schedule does not set up very well for a
quick start to the season but the Cougars are
capable of pulling off some upsets along the way.
BYU starts off with a game at a much improved
Arizona before hosting Tulsa, a favorite in C-USA.
A trip to Boston College follows before heading
back home to play Utah St. in its final non-conference
game. The MWC opener is at preseason favorite
TCU and a win there would be absolutely huge.
The next six games are all winnable with the toughest
of the bunch being a trip to Colorado St. The
season finale is at rival Utah, a team the Cougars
have not defeated in four years. With the three
toughest games in the conference all on the road,
BYU must have a strong showing in its out of conference
games to surpass last season’s win total.
You can bet on…
BYU is going to score a ton of points but it is
also going to be giving up a lot as well. If this
defense can adjust to the new scheme right away,
the Cougars have an excellent chance of contending
in the MWC. BYU has gone a respectable 8-8 on
the road over the last three years so upsets are
quite possible. Traveling to Arizona and Boston
College in two of the first three weeks will be
difficult as the Cougars are just 5-12 ATS in
non-conference road games since 1998. They will
be getting points in both of those and they are
8-4 against the number in their last 12 road games
when getting points. The offense will be a threat
so outright wins and/or backdoor covers will always
be an option.
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