Tulsa vs. BYU
As an former sports book manager I know that the odds makers had to make BYU the favorite here against Tulsa. If they didn't they would have gotten too much one way action on BYU.
However the Golden Hurricanes should be the favorite here. First of all Tulsa is returning 16 starters for a team that went 10-3 against the spread, won the USA conference title, and beat Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl.
Offensively I look for the Golden Hurricanes to easily move the ball up and down the field against a BYU defense that gave up 31 points a game last year, and has only 4 starters returning on defense. Behind an offensive line with 4 starting seniors returning look for quarterback Paul Smith who threw for 20 touchdown passes last season to put a big number on the scoreboard today.
Defensively Tulsa is even stronger with 9 starters returning. They main problem here will be to try and defend against BYU quarterback John Beck who threw for over 3,700 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. However this will be no problem with their entire secondary returning, plus two starters that are returning from injury that did not play last year in Kedrick Alexander, and Steve Craver. As you can see this is a very deep unit that will keep the BYU offense in check.
Game Time: 9/9/2006 4:00:00 PM
Play: Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
By: Tony Stoffo
As an former sports book manager I know that the odds makers had to make BYU the favorite here against Tulsa. If they didn't they would have gotten too much one way action on BYU.
However the Golden Hurricanes should be the favorite here. First of all Tulsa is returning 16 starters for a team that went 10-3 against the spread, won the USA conference title, and beat Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl.
Offensively I look for the Golden Hurricanes to easily move the ball up and down the field against a BYU defense that gave up 31 points a game last year, and has only 4 starters returning on defense. Behind an offensive line with 4 starting seniors returning look for quarterback Paul Smith who threw for 20 touchdown passes last season to put a big number on the scoreboard today.
Defensively Tulsa is even stronger with 9 starters returning. They main problem here will be to try and defend against BYU quarterback John Beck who threw for over 3,700 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. However this will be no problem with their entire secondary returning, plus two starters that are returning from injury that did not play last year in Kedrick Alexander, and Steve Craver. As you can see this is a very deep unit that will keep the BYU offense in check.
Game Time: 9/9/2006 4:00:00 PM
Play: Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
By: Tony Stoffo
