The BYU Cougars left the Mountain West Conference several years ago and chose to become an independent. The reason for being independent is that BYU could create a national schedule which would create television-friendly games on ESPN which would provide the school more money than if it had been in the Mountain West. BYU’s national schedule doesn’t just provide television money; it also provides more of a national recruiting platform for the football program, and it also helps this Mormon school do more missionary work and religious education across the United States.
Yet, the drawback of a national schedule is that it means wins are harder to come by.
Will this team be able to go over its regular season win total of 5.5 in 2018?
BYU 2018 regular season win total
Over 5.5
Under 5.5
Odds courtesy of BetDSI Sportsbook.
What Happened Last Year
The Cougars were unable to generate much of any offensive production last season. They were shut out by LSU. They scored just 13 points against Utah, 7 against Boise State, 10 versus Mississippi State, and 10 at home against UMass in a humiliating loss. BYU’s offense came along at times, but the larger course of the season was “one step forward, two steps back.” All the relatively good teams on BYU’s national schedule were able to subdue the Cougars’ offense without too much of a problem. When BYU was at its very best, the Cougars – in the 1980s – had high-tech passing games which no opponents could stop. Now, BYU lives in a very different world, one which didn’t have much upside in 2017. Nine losses are far below any reasonable standard the Cougars should have.
What Will Change This Year
The loss of linebacker Fred Warner, the most prolific tackler on the team, will be a jolt to the defense. Yet, that is the least of BYU’s problems.
The offense was atrocious last year, so five new offensive coaches, including an offensive coordinator, were brought in. Quarterback Tanner Mangum, a longtime veteran within the program, is still in the mix, but young up-and-comer Joe Critchlow showed promise in relief appearances late last season, building hope in the fan base that a successor at quarterback was ready to lead the Cougars into a new era. How the positions, personnel and scheme are all juggled by the new staff will have a lot to say about how the Cougars adjust – and possibly improve – this season. What is unsettling is that the team doesn’t fully know which quarterback or which strategic approach offer the surest and most dependable path to success.
Outlook & Prediction
In BYU’s national schedule this year, Arizona, California, Wisconsin, Washington, Boise State and Utah are the six toughest opponents. Utah has been a nemesis for BYU over the past decade. Being able to win that game would mean so much for BYU as a program, but it’s not likely the Cougars will win. Boise State, Washington, and Wisconsin are excellent teams, and Arizona and California are both expected to be solid. Ultimately, losing all six of those games means BYU has to go 6-0 in its other six games to cover this number. That’s a tightrope for the Cougars to walk. It is probable that the team will fall under the number instead of rising above it.
