CanTDS beat Utah in 2018?

If we won the south and are playing TDS, we won’t have out 2’s and 3’s out there. Whittingham will be looking for a Wyoming style beat down. He will go into that game wanting to win by 50 and crush their spirits. 

Yeah, it would be a well-done job on BYU if they could break the steak. But rare is the player on their end that could start on ours. But I’d still give them a medium chance of beating us under your scenario.

No, they can’t, and yes, our 2’s and 3’s are better than their starters, to say nothing of their 2’s and 3’s. Right now Tanner Mangum is expected to start, and he has not had good experiences playing Utah. If he even lasts the season, which he probably won’t. Bushman is their only offensive weapon right now, and our DB’s will be all over him. Ula is gone, and Canada has been very inconsistent against strong defenses. The only way they win against us is either by signal stealing, which is probably against the honor code, or if all of our 1’s, and I mean all of them, are injured. Last year, there was no reason for the game to be competitive, and this year, shouldn’t even be an afterthought. I’m not overlooking them, but this should not be a close game.

I hate the placement of this game. We are in an almost impossible situation in terms of motivation.

If we win the South division, then we will be looking ahead to the Pac-12 title game. If we lose the South division, especially if we were in the race right to the end, then we likely be dejected and down from failing to meet that goal. Although, maybe in this scenario our team takes out their frustration on BYU which could be awesome . . . 

BYU is almost certain to be playing for bowl eligibility unless their season is a complete disaster, so they will have that extra motivation going for them. If their season is a complete disaster, then they will be able to come into that game totally loose and play like they have nothing to lose. If they are somehow vastly improved from last year, they will most certainly come in to that game confident and hyped looking to end their regular season with an exclamation point. Any one of these scenarios is good for them.

Hopefully we’re good enough and healthy enough to not have to worry about any of this and can just beat them handily regardless of circumstances surrounding the game.

If we’re in a situation where we’re looking ahead to the PAC12 championship game, that means we’re a really damn good team – best Utah team ever IMO – including our backups. Result: BYU-P loses. 

If we’re in a situation where we’re not going to the PAC12 championship game, then we’re probably still an ok team and our starters play. Result: BYU-P loses. 

Since it is the last game, injuries could be a major factor, and we are in a much better position to survive those.

insert LOL gif here

Honestly, talent-wise the two teams are farther apart than they have been since the 50’s. This is a two TD game advantage Utah minimum. While the games have been closer in score than they should have been, does anyone question the gulf-like disparity between the two programs? I’m not trying to sound over-confident but BYU and Utah’s current trajectory are on opposite paths.

No.

Possible? Yes.

Probable?  NFW. The ball might take a lucky bounce, etc, but this game will not be closer than 2 TDs.