Las Vegas Bowl

Las Vegas Bowl -- December 22nd, 8pm
UCLA vs. BYU

At first glance, the BYU does not appear to be a team that could hang with the likes of major conference programs given their rough start to the season this year. The BYU Stormin' Mormons, er correction, Cougars, gave up 55 points in a loss to Tulsa and lost by 10 to UCLA during the first 3 games of the season. Since then, the Morm...Cougars have won 9 straight and earned a bid to the Las Vegas Bowl for the second year in a row to play the Bruins again. BYU averages over 30 points per game and gives up 18.8 including that one 55 point blemish against Tulsa. An easy pick in this bowl game is clearly UCLA given the fact that these two teams met in September and UCLA won by two scores. Not so fast. UCLA has been plagued by injuries and streaky offensive production down the stretch this season and has struggled defensively in bowls the last couple seasons. Add on top of all this, UCLA will be without head coach Karl Dorrell and players might not give a shit under a new, temporary leader.

I give BYU the predicted win given the fact that they were able to focus on football in the city of sin last season for the Las Vegas Bowl and pulled out a completely dominant win over Dennis Dixon and Oregon. The sex, drugs, and parties in Vegas didn't waiver these hardened Mormo...I mean, Cougars, and I expect another good showing this season. I'm giving the nod to BYU expecting UCLA's defense to not show up without their fearless leader, Mr. Karl, and the pass rush won't be nearly lethal enough to stop the Mormons...I mean, Cougars.

Why Watch this Game: Max Hall has replaced John Beck nicely and has led an efficient BYU offense averaging 458 yards per game. UCLA's defense was sketch sketch sketch at times this season while doing fairly well at others and assuming that they won't show up, BYU's offense will roll roll roll and be quite entertaining to watch. Plus, beating UCLA, so easy, Notre Dame can do it.

Prediction BYU 33 UCLA 27

MVP Max Hall