The most likely record that BYU Football will have in 2019.
Yesterday, I lined out the best and worst case scenarios for BYU Football that ranged from them going 4-8 to 12-1 overall. As I stated numerous times yesterday, those are probably not going to happen because BYU isn't that good or bad.
Below are my projections for the Cougars in each game. (Obviously the rankings are complete guesses since BYU has no control over what kind of wins/losses other teams around the country have.)
Game 1: Utah
The winner is going to come down to which team is able to control the line of scrimmage. I know that is cliche, but it is true in this game. If BYU's offensive line can compete with Utah's defensive line the Cougars will have a really good shot. On the other side, it BYU can take advantage of the inexperience and youth of Utah's offensive line Zack Moss and Tyler Huntley won't have time to make the big plays. I think that this is going to be a back and forth game, but I do honestly believe that BYU will end the streak here. The win will be one of the best three wins of the first week and will put the Cougars into the Top 25.
Result: 28-24 BYU
Ranking: #24
Record: 1-0
Game 2: Tennessee
Coming off of a HUGE emotional win, the Cougars will find themselves down early against the Volunteers. Tennessee isn't going to be a great team in 2019 however, and with their first game being against Georgia State, they will still be making quite a few mistakes against BYU. Those mistakes will prove to be costly at the end of the game and be the difference. At halftime it will be a one score game, but BYU will open it up in the second half and win my double digits.
Result: 37-24 USC
Ranking: #20
Record: 2-0
Game 3: USC
BYU Football will come into this game a little bit over confident and hyped up from the win against Utah and than an SEC team and will be shocked when USC comes in ready to take down the Cougars. The game will be a shootout but in the end the Trojans will make less mistakes than the Cougars.
Result: 41-38 USC
Ranking: NR
Record: 2-1
Game 4: Washington
Unlike USC, the Cougars will be ready to play Washington and it will show early as the Cougars take an early 21-7 lead into halftime. Washington, the better and more talented team will make a huge second half comeback but inexperience will get the better of new QB Jacob Eason and he will make a mistake on the final drive of the game to seal the win for the Cougars. The Cougars will be ranked after the win once again.
Result: 31-27 BYU
Ranking: #21
Record 3-1
Game 5: Toledo
Everyone seems to think that Toledo will be really good in 2019, but it won't be a repeat of the 2016 shootout between the teams. The Rockets really struggled in 2018 against decent competition and it will plague them again in 2019. BYU won't blow them out, but it won't take a last second field goal to win the game either.
Result: 45-28 BYU
Ranking: #18
Record: 4-1
Game 6: South Florida
This comes at a bad time for BYU. After just travelling across the country to Ohio, the Cougars will have flown home for a few days before flying back out to South Florida. Charlie Strong's team is going to be quick and shock the Cougars with 28 first half points. The Cougars will never make it really competitive and lose by 13.
Result 48-35 South Florida
Ranking: NR
Record: 4-2
Game 7: Boise State
Finally home after nearly a month away, Zach Wilson will be able to do something that he wasn't able to last year, score a late touchdown. The game will be a defensive battle that will be right in line of the other games in this growing rivalry. The Cougars will score late in the game and then keep Boise State from scoring on their last drive.
Result: 21-17 BYU
Ranking: 25
Record: 5-2
Game 8: Utah State
Utah State will be prepped and ready for this game with the blackout and star quarterback Jordan Love. The Cougars will score a lot of points on the Aggies, but Jordan Love will answer every time BYU closes the gap. This game will go to overtime but will ultimately go the home teams way giving the Aggies another win over the Cougars.
Result: 51-48 Utah State
Ranking: NR
Record 5-3
Game 9: Liberty
Liberty is no FCS team that everyone seems to think they are. Granted they won't be ranked at anytime during the season, but this will not be the blowout that everyone is expecting. Liberty will actually be in the lead at halftime 17-10. The second half will be all Cougars though as they go on to score 28 of the final 35 points. A comfortable, but not blowout win. The Cougars will officially accept their invitation to the Hawaii Bowl after the game.
Result: 38-24 BYU
Ranking: NR
Record 6-3
Game 10: Idaho State
Finally, we will get to see Baylor Romney play. And finally it won't come down to the fourth quarter to put the game away. Idaho State will do what they have done to BYU in the past, which is allow them to score a ton of points and Cougar fans will get to the see the players that will be starting in a few seasons. Also, with the new redshirt rules, this will give a bunch of pre-missionaries the chance to get playing time before leaving.
Result: 52-10 BYU
Ranking NR
Record: 7-3
Game 11: UMass
How UMass got BYU to agree to essentially a 2-2 with two games in the Northeast is a mystery to me but they did. Good for BYU to give them essentially two home games in a row. The game won't be broadcasted on Live TV unless you watch really weird channels, but it won't be really worth watching anyways as the Cougars get their second straight blowout win.
Result: 48-17 BYU
Ranking: NR
Record: 8-3
Game 12: San Diego State
SDSU is going to appear to be much better than what they appear on paper. They avoid Boise State and host Fresno State and Utah State giving them a real chance at being ranked and potentially in a spot to play in the MWC Championship game. The game will be back and forth but the Cougars D-line will be able to the Aztecs from having production on the ground and force them to be one dimensional in an offense they are uncomfortable with. The Cougars win and beat their fourth ranked team of the season.
Result: 27-21 BYU
Ranking: 25
Record: 9-3
Game 13: Hawaii (Hawaii Bowl)
Cole McDonald was kept from being able to do anything against the Cougars last year until late in the game and it will be the same this year. Inexperienced freshman Zach Wilson tore apart the Hawaii defense this year and there is no reason to think he wouldn't do the same this time as well. There will be a lot of points in this game but the Cougars will comfortably win the game.
Result: 37-24 BYU
Ranking: 23
Record: 10-3