BYU Football - Colorado St - Pre-game

This week BYU football takes on the Colorado State Rams in Provo.  Colorado State is currently 3-0.  This week they look to open conference play with a statement game against19th ranked BYU Cougars.  This is the best start the Rams have had in 15 years and you can bet they will be excited to play against the team that has dominated the MWC for the past three years.  They won't go down without a fight.

At the beginning of the season, I thought of this game as sort of a gimme game for BYU football.  CSU is usually a mid MWC team, that hasn't given BYU much trouble.  Although, they had an impressive growing season last year, I didn't think they would present a large challenge for BYU.

However, after last week's humiliating loss to FSU, BYU showed they were vulnerable.  The defense that had been unbreakable the first two weeks in the season, broke.  They broke badly.  The good news for BYU is that CSU's quarterback, Grant Stucker isn't as mobile as Christian Ponder.  I don't think BYU will have trouble putting a fair amount of pressure on him.

In CSU's first three games, they have shown they can play with quality opponents and, in fact, beat them.  Look for it to be a good game this weekend, but not as close as some may think.  BYU's running game is better this year than it was last year.  CSU has shown they are suceptible to the run allowing 169 rushing yards in their game against Nevada.  Unga and Kariya will both have career days and the Cougars will win by three touchdowns.

Prediction

BYU 45 CSU 21

BYU Football - Tulane - Post Game

Max Hall is certainly making a name for himself after a second week passer rating of 170.49 in the BYU football team 54-3 victory over Tulane. With the exception of one interception, Max played the game just about as well as he could have. He completed passes to the open players. He made the right decisions on the key downs.

BYU soundly beat up on the Tulane this weekend, claiming a 2-0 starting record. I knew that Tulane was no Oklahoma, but I grossly over-estimated their abilities. I sincerely thought they would score at least two touchdowns in today's game. I guess if that says anything, it certainly says that BYU has a strong defense.

I would have to say that I feel Max Hall was the player of the game. Although he wasn't in pressure situations during this week, like he felt last week, he still held himself as the captain of the BYU football team. My hat off to him. He is showing himself as the leader that was lacking last season. This season he appears much more mature and more of a person that stays composed in pressure situations.

Bryan Kariya has stepped up in the stead of Harvey Unga. Unga didn't play in the game opener against Oklahoma, and he left early in today's game. However, without Unga no gap was felt in the back field. Kariya has showed he can run, he can catch, and he can block.

Up next - Florida State...in Provo.