BYU Cougars - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

After running the table at 8-0 in conference play and compiling an 11-2 overall record, BYU has its program headed in the right direction. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall did well to get his team atop the Mountain West conference, however the loss of offensive forces in quarterback John Beck, running back Curtis Brown and tight end Jonny Harline created an experience vacuum and raised questions about the quality of new skill players.

Not only do the Cougars lose Beck’s 3,885 passing yards, but backup Jason Beck is gone too. BYU finished 2006 ranked fifth in scoring at 36.8 PPG and were fourth in the nation at over 323 passing yards. Both should steadily drop with the signal-calling job up in the air. The new starter will either be Jacob Bower or Max Hall, neither of whom has taken a snap for BYU. The good news for the Cougar offense is that Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga will form a strong rushing tandem in the backfield, behind four returning starting offensive linemen. The two combined for over 600 yards and 12 touchdowns behind 1,000-yard rusher Curtis Brown, and their experience will be key for an offense that has no clue what to expect from its quarterback position.

Six starters in all are back for the offense and seven are back on the defensive side of the ball. The Cougars lose leading tackler, linebacker Cameron Jensen, as well as top corner Justin Robinson. This year, Ben Criddle must step up as their shutdown corner, looking to replace Robinson’s four interceptions and improve on the pair he swiped last year. Both BYU’s place kicker and punter are gone as well, so the entire special teams group has a point to prove coming into this season. BYU faces a much tougher task in 2007.

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