BYU-Arizona Football: What Is This Year's Bowl Game X Factor?

When we lost to Arizona in 2006 at their place, I was not impressed with their team. I did not play due to a newly torn hamstring, but I watched all the film and was so frustrated we let that one get away.

Did you know that on one play our D only had 10 guys on the field? We were missing a DL and they ran the ball right where he was supposed to be...for a loss of two yards! This was on the 10-yard line, mind you.

We played them at home in 2007 and I was still not too impressed. They were supposed to have this awesome secondary, but I think we handled them quite well.

Their offense was new and it was supposedly the same scheme as our offense, but ours was better in its execution, so we really were at a huge advantage. Scheme aside, I just didn’t think that they were as talented as us, and they didn’t play as hard or as physical.

So now we are in 2008 and we will meet at a neutral site with a little more on the line. So what will the outcome be?

Statistically, we are ranked about the same on offense and defense. So, on paper, it should be a pretty square match.

For the last week and a half, I have been saying that it won’t be close, thinking the Cougars would win by at least 14. Right now I am not as certain. I think we are back to even because of the X Factor.

What is that? UofA’s coaches have been in some big bowl games, and I think that UofA could possibly come out more fired up than BYU. The Stoops brothers have coached in big bowls and they say that this “is the biggest bowl game we’ve coached in.” No doubt about it, the Wildcats are going to be wild.

I stand by my opinion that we are the better team and should win by more than 10. However, Arizona is going to come out in that first quarter and try and knock us in the teeth.

If we can take that punch on the chin and come out of the first quarter with a lead, I think we can take the wind out of their sails, much like we did to Oregon two years ago. The longer we let them hang, the more they will start to believe they can really beat us (like UCLA last year).

By Markell Staffieri