went back and forth a couple times on this one, but finally landed on....
byu (-10) 1 unit. this would be 2 units if not for byu's first year head coach. not because he's a bad coach, but because first year head coaches have such a terrible bowl record.
when the matchups were announced, i was thinking i'd be on byu. over the last 24 hours my gut started telling me wyoming is the play. but the more i look at this, the more i think the mormons will get it done tonight. mangum is actually a better thrower than hill. and quite possibly a better decision maker. he had a very good year as a freshman last year when he was thrust into the starting role after hill's injury. if he has improved, the passing game is going to be a solid complement to their excellent ground game. and that ground game is going to be the key. wyoming gives up 5.25 yards/carry. jamaal williams should have a big game. on the other side of the ball, wyoming relies on the ground game. but byu is 12th in the country, allowing 3.38 yards/carry. i really don't think wyoming is going to be able to get much going offensively.
another ugly stat i just found... wyoming is 98th in the country in getting stops on 3rd down. granted it was with a different qb, but byu's offense is 13th in the country, converting 48.1% of the time on 3rd down. so byu should be able to sustain some drives.
byu (-10) 1 unit. this would be 2 units if not for byu's first year head coach. not because he's a bad coach, but because first year head coaches have such a terrible bowl record.
when the matchups were announced, i was thinking i'd be on byu. over the last 24 hours my gut started telling me wyoming is the play. but the more i look at this, the more i think the mormons will get it done tonight. mangum is actually a better thrower than hill. and quite possibly a better decision maker. he had a very good year as a freshman last year when he was thrust into the starting role after hill's injury. if he has improved, the passing game is going to be a solid complement to their excellent ground game. and that ground game is going to be the key. wyoming gives up 5.25 yards/carry. jamaal williams should have a big game. on the other side of the ball, wyoming relies on the ground game. but byu is 12th in the country, allowing 3.38 yards/carry. i really don't think wyoming is going to be able to get much going offensively.
another ugly stat i just found... wyoming is 98th in the country in getting stops on 3rd down. granted it was with a different qb, but byu's offense is 13th in the country, converting 48.1% of the time on 3rd down. so byu should be able to sustain some drives.