Jason Storm
Free Picks Newsletter Lead Researcher
138-89-1 Overall Record 

College Football: Tulsa (-1) vs BYU (+1) Over – Under 56.5

BYU has had high expectations coming into the year but then went 1-2 to open the season. The Cougars seemed flat and offensively, they seemed slow. That was until the coach made a big move that was the spark this team needed. In the middle of the game versus their in state rivals Utah State, Jake Heaps was benched  because of his poor performance. He completed just 11 of 24 attempts for 107 yards and 0 TDs.

In came Riley Nelson who went 10 of 14 144 yards and 2 TDs. It lifted this team and gave them a much needed win. Since then Nelson has started every game for BYU with a 6-1 record. It was a great move by the coach.

Coach Mendenhall has taken this program to a new level, taking them to a Bowl game every year he has been coach. If they win this game it will be the 5th time in his 6 years that this BYU team has won 10 games! That’s a tremendous accomplishment. They have done it behind defense. They are big, strong and athletic. They are going to be fast and well prepared with the delay. This BYU defense is as good what the stats say.

BYU’s defense only allows 316 yards a game! That’s 16th in the nation! They allow under 200 yards passing, and under 120 yards rushing a game. That’s equally as good in both areas. The fact that don’t have a weakness is the reason why they only allow 20 points a game! And they have been even better lately.

Over BYU’s last 3 games they have allowed just 11.3 ppg! They have allowed just 263 yards a game! That’s mind blowing numbers. Over that same span, Tulsa, their opponent for tonight, has allowed 31 points a game. Yes 20 more points per game and nearly 200 yards of offense!

Remember that BYU on the season allows just 20 ppg, well Tulsa has only held opponents under 20 ppg 4 out of 12 games this season. BYU has held opponents under that mark 7 out of 12.

Since Nelson has taken over at QB, these offenses are about even. But its night and day difference between the two defenses, and BYU’s defense is going to shine in this one.

Take BYU +1