Give me reasons for comfort friends
 

because as I evaluate the two teams, my Bayesian logic says Utah wins this game seven out of ten times.

Utah has progressed over the season and BYU has tanked since the USU game, showing no improvement, but merely appeared to be hanging on.

We have Unga, injured, and Pitta potentially injured. Our middle defense is very weak, weaker than we've ever had in a long time. Utah has two backs and some great receivers. I could see Utah lighting up the scoreboard and we not being able to keep pace.

This defense seems as weak as Bronco's first season, so a bad defeat a la TCU is a distinct possibility.

Junkie is there any reason for hope? Our offense has been sputtering, at times efficient but other times it's as if they can't walk and chew gum. It would be a treat to win this game, but I fully expect Utah to win by fourteen to twenty points and Whit will run up the score if he can to impress BCS voters. This game poses the worst scenario for BYU.

How about this for a reason to help you:

It's the rivalry game. Throw all the stats, records and everything else out because the really have no bearing on the rivalry game.

That's not a reason. I hope the Cougars can win, but see no reason why they should, our defense is just toooooooooo pathetic.

Exactly. Except for years in which one team is substantially better than the other (i.e. 2004 or all of the 70's and 80's), you can throw expectations, records, etc. out.

Still thinking. Our defense is clearly our weak spot........by a long shot. They can't stop a good running game and if the QB has enough time (and we have been pathetic in our pash rush) they complete passes.

So, I'm still thinking. Sorry, no comfort.

I'm just treating this like the next game on the schedule.

No. You are truly incapable of being comforted.

I recall that two years ago, a certain Actuary comprised a formula that showed that BYU had a 91% probability of winning the game, or something like that. Dick Harmon was so excited that he drank a Yoo-Hoo and published it.

What is this year's probability?

Significantly less than 91%.

Look at the last two years.
All things being equal, BYU should have run away w/ both of those games.
But, emotion will make things unequal.


BTW, what happened to unga/pitta?

That's a good approach. It's similar to my approach - that it's 3-4 hours of relief from my dismal existence.

Bronco is in need of a new lesson on humility for his firesides. Think of all the members who have already been blessed by the humility fireside lesson as a result of the TCU game. That can only double. Plus the y will get a nice little check from the Utes' BCS bowl appearance.

Whoa. How can a life that includes Bob and Doug be dismal?

LOL

Kyle has made some PR missteps, especially the first couple of years, but Bronco comes out with some odd quotes, like the "blessed to have been humbled", remark, to go along with Max Hall's quote before the season started, "We're a great team, all we have to do is be humble".

But whoever came up with the "Quest for Perfection" slogan & line of apparel wasn't thinking rationally, had to be on [insert your painkiller of choice here].

Are you referring to an onside kick, perhaps?

My life is not what it seems.

Bob and Doug offer me hope.

Counting chickens . . .
 

is a very bad idea with this rivalry game, especially when the teams are so evenly matched. I think Utah has the edge, but I am not allowing myself to get very confident about this one. If we win I'll have plenty of time to enjoy the victory (and I will, big-time!).

OTOH, if we lose, that will be painful enough without making it worse by bragging up a storm even before the kickoff.

Anyone who's followed this rivalry for even the last 10 years knows that there's no sure thing. BYU is a good team and will be motivated. I'll start enjoying a win when the clock runs out and Utah is still ahead. Not until then!