San Jose State = Utah State with Better Momentum

USU nearly humiliated us on ESPN in our house - I hope I don't get in too much trouble if I call it the Big House. For USU - it is. USU lost at home to CSU the week before. SJSU beat CSU in Colorado last week. After a slow start to the season, SJSU has won their last two and demonstrated a potent running and passing attack.



I will make my final prediction at the last minute - this will be difficult to predict even if Bronco does announce his starting QB sooner than later. Even harder if he does not.



If Jake starts will we get the same - POTENTIAL held up by playing scared - or a break-out game now that he knows he has to play well to keep his job. WIll he overcome his fear of taking a hit and use the extra time he has wasted when throwing or create extra time when it is not there. WIll he run in a physical, move the chains kind of way on QB draws or broken plays, or run two yards and slide before anyone is even near him? Mainly, will he rush and make erratic throws? The game result will vary from an embarrasing loss to a comfotable win depending on which Jake Heaps we see.



If RIley starts will we see the same play-making ability that seems to create luck and good fortune and points. Or will SJSU game plan for RIley and shut him down like AFA did a year ago? We do not have much data to go on here. The outcome could vary widely depending on the performance we see.



RIght now, I am going to assume Riley starts. I do not think it was a fluke vs USU but expect something less dramatic due to unlucky bounces to go along with lucky bounces, and due to SJSU game planning and practcing to stop RIley. BYU 31 SJSU 17 in this scenario after a pick 6 by SDSU off James Lark in mop up time. I think BYU defense can slow down SJSU and I think Special Teams will have a solid, but not spectacular day. I may revise this projection as the game draws nearer and more is known about whom will be starting. I have more confidence in Riley than Jake right now. If the QB plays solid (136 PER) - every other boat will be sufficiently lifted to win this game. If they do not (typical 100 or so PER that we have seen from Jake this year) - we will lose this game.

SJSU senior RB Brandon Rutley is a game time decision with an ankle injury. If SJSU can't run they won't win.



I think the defense will win this game, regardless of who starts at QB.



BYU has shown that they can lose to anybody, but they've also shown that they can hang with some pretty good teams.

CAFB_04-12 wrote:
SJSU senior RB Brandon Rutley is a game time decision with an ankle injury. If SJSU can't run they won't win.



I think the defense will win this game, regardless of who starts at QB.



BYU has shown that they can lose to anybody, but they've also shown that they can hang with some pretty good teams.

details? How likely? Any other scouting reports on SJSU?



IF he is out, my prediction gets way more optimistic.

http://www.google.com/search?a&safe=active&q=f&hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&btnmeta_news_search=1&q=Brandon+Rutley#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&safe=active&gl=us&tbm=nws&source=hp&q=Brandon+Rutley&pbx=1&oq=Brandon+Rutley&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=4229l4334l0l4984l2l2l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d2910004b68370db&biw=1396&bih=687



Google news, and a brief mention on the Wednesday coach's show. BYU is prepping as if he will play, but we all know how touchy ankle injuries can be for a RB (Unga).

CAFB_04-12 wrote:
SJSU senior RB Brandon Rutley is a game time decision with an ankle injury. If SJSU can't run they won't win.



I think the defense will win this game, regardless of who starts at QB.



BYU has shown that they can lose to anybody, but they've also shown that they can hang with some pretty good teams.

:skeptic: what "pretty good teams" have BYU hung with? The Texas team was at their most vulnerable point in their season, playing 3 qbs, one of them throwing tons of gifts to DBs etc. If BYU plays Texas right now, we aren't "hanging" with them at all. The rest of the teams have been as bad or worse than BYU.

Are you calling Texas weak?



UCF was a top 25 defense in run and pass D.



USU averaged over 300 yards rushing. We held them to under their season average.



Utah was, well...nevermind.

CAFB_04-12 wrote:
Are you calling Texas weak?



UCF was a top 25 defense in run and pass D.



USU averaged over 300 yards rushing. We held them to under their season average.



Utah was, well...nevermind.

- Texas was WEAK SAUCE when BYU played them. It was an absolute embarrassment that BYU couldn't score in that second half.

- UCF is like a urroner pussy-cat. Pretender.

- BYU's defense held USU, not BYU's offense which is where the problems are this year.

- Utah is terrible which doesn't say much for BYU this year.



With an even average BYU offense, BYU would be undefeated right now. BYU's offense can't "hang" with anyone decent.

Word choice - decent. Every team we have played is decent. SJSU is a decent team. None of them are great teams - great = Top 10. Very Good = Top 25. Good = also receiving votes - top 40 or so. Average would be Top 60. Below Avg = Top 80. Weak Sauce or Poor = Top 100 or so. The other 20 or so might be horrible.



Anyway, if you don't agree with those deliniations make some other. But to continue to never see the shades of gray between great and horrible, is why one QB is always great and the other one is horrible, same thing QB, player, coach, team. Black and white.



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Someone on a different thread mentioned a SJSU DB out for the season. Specifics? SJSU has won their last two. When did the RB and DB injuries occur?



SJSU coach talked about how BYU has two very good QBs. BYU fans think we have a headcase and a bandaid.



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Is SjSU really horrible?



Or a sleeper - trap game?





Sep 3 @Stanford Lost 3-57

Sep 10 @UCLA Lost 17-27

Sep 17 Nevada Lost 14-17

Sep 24 New Mexico St. Won 34-24

Oct 1 @Colorado St. Won 38-31





Stanford would kill BYU too - but BYU would hopefully slow Stnford down a little - unless they did not - see Utah game



UCLA is probably similar but slightly better than Ole MIss.



Nevada killed us last year. THey are decent this year.



NMSU - we would beat them too.



CSU = UCF in over-all ability.



I see a compettive game coming up - hopefully Riley improves our performance against this level of competition.

How is UNR "decent" this year? Their only win is against SJSU, and they are ranked #101 in points scored, and #110 in points allowed. UNR is many things without Kapernick, but "decent" is not one of them.

I expect schedule to allow UNR to move up. Time will tell. Admittedly, they are not last year's version. I thought last year's version was a Good Team. This one is a level or two below that.



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declocoug wrote:

Are you calling Texas weak?



UCF was a top 25 defense in run and pass D.



USU averaged over 300 yards rushing. We held them to under their season average.



Utah was, well...nevermind.

- Texas was WEAK SAUCE when BYU played them. It was an absolute embarrassment that BYU couldn't score in that second half.

- UCF is like a urroner pussy-cat. Pretender.

- BYU's defense held USU, not BYU's offense which is where the problems are this year.

- Utah is terrible which doesn't say much for BYU this year.



With an even average BYU offense, BYU would be undefeated right now. BYU's offense can't "hang" with anyone decent.

I hate to quote myself, but Texas is still a pretender as far as I'm concerned. BYU should be undefeated right now.