By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
BYU isn’t simply taking part in Texas Tech for an opportunity to make the Playoff.
No, it’s way more than that.
The Cougars are going through off towards the ESPN propaganda machine that desperately desires BYU to lose. It’s a disgusting company cabal that solely cares about defending its personal funding, the SEC.
The bias within the community’s protection is so apparent to anybody paying consideration. The BYU gamers understand it. The workers is aware of it. And followers understand it.
It’s greater than simply BYU versus Texas Tech. It’s greater than soccer. That is the Massive 12 versus Disney, frequent sense versus company greed, and information versus propaganda.
However on the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless a recreation performed on a area.
Right here’s my preview for the way BYU can stick it to ESPN and safe a win for the great of school soccer.
No. 11 BYU v. No. 4 Texas Tech
Saturday, December 6
9:00 a.m. PT, ABC
Wwithin the line of scrimmage.
That’s the important thing to BYU beating Texas Tech and making the Playoff.
Within the first recreation in Lubbock, the Pink Raider protection held the Cougars to 2.5 yards per rush and 67 yards speeding. The struggles within the trenches resulted in BYU going 3-for-14 on third down and committing three turnovers.
That may’t occur once more. Or you’ll be able to kiss the Playoff goodbye.
The BYU protection truly did its job within the opening matchup, holding Texas Tech to only two touchdowns and forcing 5 area purpose makes an attempt. It’s not the protection that’s the priority. It’s the offense.
You simply aren’t going to win high-level soccer video games when you’ll be able to’t transfer the ball on the bottom. Particularly if the offensive system relies on establishing the run.
So how do you overcome disadvantages up entrance? Scheme, play-calling, and breaking tendencies.
Regardless of BYU being visibly outmatched alongside the road, the teaching workers saved attempting to ascertain the run. The Cougars ran the ball 27 occasions, even whereas taking part in from behind a lot of the recreation.
There’s a well-known quote attributed to Einstein that claims: “The definition of madness is doing the identical factor again and again and anticipating totally different outcomes.”
Break tendencies. Do one thing surprising. Throw the ball when TTU is anticipating a run. Hold them off steadiness. Keep away from slow-developing performs. Get the ball out rapidly.
These are all ideas for the BYU teaching workers will seemingly contemplate within the rematch.
Now, it’s most likely value a shot to try to set up the conventional offensive movement to see if the primary recreation was extra of a fluke.
But when the Pink Raiders are dominating the trenches once more, an alternate recreation plan have to be utilized. In any other case, the identical ugly recreation goes to occur a second time.
So, what are the very best offensive strengths to emphasise? Bear Bachmeier’s menace to run. His longest rush within the first recreation was simply 5 yards, and he solely managed to put up a complete of 12 yards speeding.
Use his working skill when Texas Tech thinks it’s going to be a go. Unfold the sector out and name a designed quarterback run. Pretend a jet sweep and throw the ball downfield.
Add substantive wrinkles to performs you’ve already placed on movie. Catch the Pink Raiders off guard.
As a result of if the offense is predictable, they are going to swarm the ball and frustrate BYU’s offense identical to they did within the first recreation.
And clearly, the Cougars can’t flip the ball over and anticipate to win. Going through such a stout protection, the turnover margin have to be gained.
Behren Morton isn’t that nice of a quarterback. He’s not even talked about among the many elite QBs within the convention.
Morton is sluggish, takes sacks, and could be pressured into unhealthy throws. Assault him, he’s a straightforward goal. If BYU goes to drag off the upset, the protection goes to must make performs.
And no matter what the Vegas oddsmakers assume, the Cougars can completely win this recreation.
The unfold is disrespectful for a rematch on a impartial area. Particularly with Texas Tech primarily locked into the Playoff. This recreation means extra to BYU and will come all the way down to the wire.
Go win it for the Massive 12.
Go win it to show ESPN fallacious.
Go win it for the West.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to System 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
