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BYU at Virginia Prediction Thread

Each week, the staff here at Loyal Cougars will make predictions and post them on the internet for your entertainment and mockery. Be sure to post your prediction in the comment thread in order to win eternal glory for your sure-fire correct prognostication.

After looking over the staff predictions, the blue goggles (or blue paint, in Steve’s case) are out in full force. Turns out Loyal Cougars is literal.

Steve Pierce — What to watch? Whether or not I lose my mind and streak the field at Scott Stadium in blue body paint. I’m not kidding. As an East Coast resident, the last BYU football game I attended was the “54-10” game against Utah in 2011 — so if I have to endure another one of those in person, there’s no telling what I might do. BYU 28, Virginia 16 — and no inappropriate behavior from yours truly.

Geoff Johnston — We’ll see how truly fast Anae intends to go with his new offense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the BYU offense run 90+ plays just to send a message. BYU 37 UVA 13

Troy Adams — How well do Unga and Hadley stop the run?  How well do our corners defend the pass? Does our OL win the battle of the trenches? BYU 34 Virginia 13. Yes we will miss an XP!

Presten Norton — BYU’s running game will turn heads this season, especially early when it isn’t on opponents’ radar. I also expect TH4 to make 2-3 plays per game that drop a few jaws. BYU – 31   UVA – 20

Brandon Jones —  Has Bronco perfected the long-term preparation process? BYU has won 13 straight games when not playing the previous week, including 6 straight openers. Will the offense secure the football? Under Coach Mendenhall, BYU is 17-0 on the road when turning the ball over once or less. Where are we going so hard and fast? Can BYU convert on 3rd Downs (BYU is 60-6 under Bronco when converting 45% or more) BYU 41, Virginia 13

Adam Mangum — Who’s going to be the No. 2 outside receiver: Ridley or Apo? How do teams scheme for KVN with Ansah gone? Can the refs keep up with the fast pace of play? It’s their first game too. BYU 35 Virginia 10

Jake Welch — Key to this game is who can make the fewest mistakes. The first game of the season is full of unknowns but what we to know for certain is that Bronco will field a disciplined team. That and any everyone I knew from high school that went to UVA was a complete slobface which obviously translates to their football program. BYU 27 Virginia 10.

Brett Hein — Two things to watch: BYU’s ability to finish drives and BYU’s ability to keep Smoke Mizzell from becoming a gamebreaker. The O moves the ball but is unpolished, and Smoke gets 1 huge play. BYU 20 Virginia 10

Greg Welch — Slow start/Fast Start: Can BYU hit the ground running? Or will Go Fast, Go Hard® take four or five drives to get up to speed (hoping it gets up to speed at all on Saturday)? BYU has not been prolific on offense in opening season games under Bronco. Can they break that trend or will they need to grind out another defensive game? BYU 27 Virginia 13

Sean Walker — BYU’s offensive line is the youngest in recent memory, and the little returning experience didn’t leave the best impression last year. Taysom Hill is a great talent, poised for something special at BYU. But will he get the protection needed to make all the right calls? BYU 21, UVA 10

Aaron Taylor — Bronson Kaufusi mistaking Virginia blue for Gonzaga blue. Oh the humanity! BYU 28 Virginia 10

Matt Mangum — Has the development of an offensive line culture taken hold with the BYU unit? Will any of these linemen establish themselves as the best of the group? How will the defensive scheme create opportunities for KVN after all of the player turnover?  BYU 24 Virginia 10

Zach Bloxham — BYU’s cornerback situation was given The Scarlet Letter treatment during the run-up to the season. The defensive backfield is certainly a concern, but I will be watching how the Cougar big boys, the offensive and defensive lines, perform in Week 1. Just because something is cliche does not mean it isn’t true: Establishing the run and stopping the run will be the difference between 1-0 and 0-1. BYU 23 Virginia 20

Your turn … and Go Cougs!

8 Comments

  1. BlueNtheFace

    August 31, 2013 at 9:57 am

    BYU: 25-17

  2. Andrew Bangerter

    August 31, 2013 at 10:03 am

    BYU 35 UVA 13 — The Cougs come out firing, and after 1 short swing pass, TH4 hits Cody for a LOOOOOONG TD. Just like that, our magical season has begun! Go Cougs!

  3. Latter-day Media (@latterdaymedia)

    August 31, 2013 at 10:22 am

    BYU 23 UVa 13, J Sorensen makes 3 field goals, offense struggles in blue zone in 1st half. No points for UVa in 2nd half.

  4. Paul B

    August 31, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Absolutely NONE of you think we’ll lose? I don’t either, but still, you think you’d have one gainsayer in the group.

  5. Kurtis Larson (@kwlarson)

    August 31, 2013 at 11:15 am

    BYU 28 UVA 13 – BYU scores one touchdown in each quarter. Sorensen misses a FG attempt around 40 yards in the 2nd quarter. In the 3rd quarter Bronco goes for it on 4th and 4 from the UVA 26 yard line. BYU fans continue to worry about the kicking game.

  6. Sanpete

    August 31, 2013 at 11:29 am

    30-9 BYU. Optimistic, I admit.

  7. bluecoug21

    August 31, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    BYU 31
    UVA 14

  8. Bryan Strain

    August 31, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    Defense wins the game this week! BYU 7 UVA 6