Arizona Football Preview: Wildcats Week One Match-up with BYU
Arizona Football is finally here, and we are excited to bring you the content! Returning to you is our annual break down of Arizona’s opponents!
It has been a looooonnngg time since we’ve had the opportunity to cover our weekly Arizona Football preview, but finally, it’s back and we are excited to talk football!
The Wildcats got off to a hot start to the 2017 season, starting 6-2 with a win over then No. 15 ranked Washington State. However, that’s when the wheels would come off as the team then lost four of their final five games of the season including a bowl loss to Purdue.
However, it’s a New Era in Tucson, and the hopes are high for Arizona Football. The 2018 season is now just days away, and the lingering questions we’ve had about this team will soon be answered.
Arizona Wildcats
Returning are numerous playmakers everywhere, with 19-year-old Junior quarterback Khalil Tate commanding a lot of the attention and hype in 2018, and for good reason. In addition to Tate, the Wildcats have numerous playmakers scattered throughout the defense and offense as well.
Kevin Sumlin is the new head honcho, and with a terrific staff in tow, this group is nearly ready to go. Arizona’s first test of 2018 will be a fairly tough one, but nonetheless, one that I think is winnable, and one the Wildcats should win if they are to be considered a strong group.
With that said, here is our first preview of 2018 of BYU!
Know Thy Foe:
Team: BYU Cougars (0-0)
Conference: Division I FBS Independent
2017 Record: 4-9 (their worst season since 1955); beat Hawaii in the final game of the season 30-20.
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake enters his third season with the Cougars, and is 13-13 overall as head coach.
Key Returners/ Starters: QB Tanner Mangum (returns from an Achilles injury), RB Squally Canada, WR’s/ TE- Matt Bushman (a Tucson native), Aleva Hifo, Micah Simon and Hawaii Transfer, Dylan Collie. The offensive line returns two starters from 2017, and adds a bit of talent as well, namely with the transfer of Tristen Hoge from Notre Dame.
Defensively, the Cougars were pretty solid, ranking 51st overall. However, where the Cougars struggled arguably the most, was in the passing game, giving up roughly 225 yards per game, and 11.53 yards per completion.
For 2018, they could easily make a jump up. They don’t lose too many valuable pieces, and in fact return quite a few of their core starters, namely Butch Pau’u, Sione Takitaki, Corbin Kaufusi and Zayne Anderson. Their defensive front seven should pretty talented, perhaps led by the mountainous Khyiris Tonga, and will test an uncertain Arizona line.
Key Injuries: Nothing major at this time, although as we stated earlier Mangum returns from an Achilles injury, and the senior QB actually didn’t participate in the Spring game, so that could be something to keep an eye on this Saturday.
Arizona will likely be without Nathan Eldridge for the season, and Layth Friekh will not be available for the first few games.
Game Information:
When: Saturday, September 1st, 2018
Time: 7:45 PM MST/PST – ESPN
Where: Arizona Stadium (Tucson, AZ)
Spread: -11.5 Arizona
Overall Series Record: 12-1-10 Arizona. The Wildcats have a slim lead in this head-to-head series, with the Cougars winning the last match-up in 2016. However, both teams have split the last four meetings, with Arizona last beating BYU in 2008 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Last Meeting vs. Arizona: Arizona lost to BYU in Glendale 18-16 in 2016.
Our Prediction: Arizona 27 BYU 17. I see this one starting out slow, but ending with a bit of fireworks. BYU I think will be better than anticipated and will give the Wildcats a solid test, but Arizona’s talent should ultimately come through.
While I still consider Arizona to have the better talent and athleticism, the Cougars, however have experience, maturity and tend to play the Wildcats tough. I’m just not sold on this one being quite the easy match like some believe.
It’s the first game of the season, so there will be plenty of kinks and excitement to get past in this one, and I don’t think it turns into quite the shootout we’ve grown accustomed to under Rich Rodriguez.
Arizona will also be largely untested up front entering this one, and I see them struggling a bit against a bigger, physical, BYU front seven.
I do think Tate and the defense will be the difference, giving the Wildcats just enough to win this one!
Watch as the Wildcats make their final preparations for the start of 2018!
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At Zona Zealots, we are excited for the return of Arizona Football and can’t wait for the game against BYU! Bear Down, Arizona and Beat the Cougars!