Saturday, December 20, 2008

Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona (7-5) vs. Brigham Young (10-2)


The final bowl game for day one of the 2008-09 bowl season is the Arizona Wildcats (7-5, 5Th in the Pac 10) vs. Brigham Young Cougars (10-2, 3RD in the MWC) in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl.

This is the 3RD game between the two teams in three seasons, after each met in the season opener in '06 and '07. The teams split, with the home teams winning each game.

Both teams faced three common opponents this season (New Mexico, UCLA and Washington). Arizona lost the only game against the common opponents with a 28-36 road game at New Mexico.

This is Arizona's first bowl game, since the '98 Holiday Bowl, where the Wildcats beat Nebraska 28-20. This is BYU's fourth straight bowl game and fourth straight vs. Pac 10 opponents. All three games were in the Las Vegas Bowl. BYU won last year's Las Vegas Bowl 17-16 over UCLA.

Many are projecting a high scoring affair, but both teams had some low scoring games during the season. Arizona's highest output in the loss was 45, but in the other four losses the highest total was 28 points (vs. New Mexico). In BYU's home game vs. New Mexico, the Cougars won 21-3.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops is a defensive minded coach. BYU's offense only scored 28 points at Washington in game two of the season. The time span between the final game of the season and today's bowl game may slowdown each offense a bit.

Cidsports prediction

Arizona 31
BYU 24


peace

No comments: