Alright I admit it. I watched most of three college football games last night. It had been so long since last season and I was Jonesin’ alright?<\/p>\n
Anyway, as most BYU Cougar fans know, the season opener for the #20 Cougs is tomorrow in Dallas at the brand-spankin’ new Dallas Cowboy stadium (aka JerryWorld). The opponent is the venerable Oklahoma Sooners in a quasi home game for the #3 ranked team in the country. Most everyone in the know thinks Oklahoma will run away with this game and that is not an unreasonable prediction. This Oklahoma team (who played in the the BCS championship game last year) is returning most of its defense, most of the skill players on offense, and its Heisman trophy winning QB as well. Sure the offensive line is mostly new (same with BYU) and the star tight end will be sitting this game out with a recent knee injury, but BYU winning this game would be a major upset.
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\nBut I am optimistic about this season. I think the Cougs with Max Hall as a senior leader will be at least as good as they were in 2006 with John Beck as the senior leader. I think an 11-1 regular season is completely feasible — especially if Hall, Unga, and Pitta can all stay healthy. Will that be good enough to get an invite to a BCS bowl? Maybe, maybe not. But we will know a lot about the team by tomorrow night.<\/p>\n
Here again are some links to the best sources of info on BYU sports:<\/p>\n
Cougarfan<\/a> — this is a useful news aggregator So here is my prediction for the 2009 season: A close loss to the Sooners then running the table thereafter. No BCS game because Boise State won’t lose this year. 11-1 and a trip to the Poinsettia Bowl for another win. 12-1 overall.<\/p>\n Caveat 1 — If Harvey Unga or Max Hall go down to injury add two more losses. Sound off Cougar fans. What are you expecting this year?
\nGreg Wrubell’s Blog<\/a> — The current voice of the Cougars has better access to the team than anyone and his blog is solid. The best part is the links to audio interviews he always posts.
\nJay Drew’s Blog <\/a>— Jay is the man at the SLTrib this year and has done a really nice job overall
\nDesNews Blog<\/a> — Written by a team of reporters over at DesNews yet as bloggers they somehow don’t add up to one Jay Drew or Greg Wrubell.
\nDeepShadesofBlue<\/a> — Some former players who blog on the Cougs. Good insights and interviews but a bit sporadic in postings
\nCougarBoard <\/a>— The real-time free for all of Cougar fans all chatting at once. Too much unfiltered info but always the fastest way to know what is going on.<\/p>\n
\nCaveat 2 — If BYU takes down the Sooners and everyone stays healthy an undefeated season is highly feasible and that would lead to talk of going not only to a BCS bowl but to the BCS title game.<\/p>\n
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