BYU/Arizona Game Day Preview Plus Score Prediction

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – After a quicker than usual 256-day offseason, BYU/Arizona is finally here.

BYU football will take on a mysterious Arizona Wildcats in the inaugural Vegas Kickoff Classic (8:30 p.m. on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio). BYU and Arizona are about to set a record for the most fans to witness a college sporting event in the state of Nevada.

Today just feels a little different 😏 GAMEDAY BABY!!!! #GoCougs🤙🏽

— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) September 4, 2021

This is the 25th meeting all-time between the two schools. Arizona leads the all-time series 12-11-1, but BYU has won the last two meetings. Both of those wins came under the direction of BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.

Now it’s time for the 3-2-1 Game Day preview plus a score prediction.

Three Game Day Thoughts

1. BYU offense will be in an “information gathering” stage early against Arizona

There’s no question about it this year; Aaron Roderick is calling the plays as the full-time offensive coordinator. So how will the offense perform, especially early against an Arizona defense that features Don Brown as defensive coordinator? Brown plans to make BYU know that they are coming over the walls.

Arizona has an infusion of transfers that add to their uncertainty. However, as a sizable underdog and with low expectations this season, Arizona has nothing to lose, everything to gain. BYU’s offense led by quarterback Jaren Hall has the pieces in place to be aggressive.

“I can assure you this, they know we’re coming over those walls. I promise you that.” — Arizona DC Don Brown on the Wildcats bringing the pressure against BYU this week pic.twitter.com/GsEnz8oiG5

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) August 31, 2021

Roderick noted this week that his staff would be in an “information gathering” phase early on Saturday night in the first quarter to get a feel of what Arizona is bringing.

Last year’s BYU team in the big games was able to pop off momentum, defining plays early in contests. If they can do that again, that could deflate a pesky underdog real quick.

2. Don’t be alarmed if BYU shows drop eight

It might be hard to realize, but many programs in college football are bringing a base defensive package with drop eight. BYU fans struggle with it, but the stats don’t lie; defensive coordinator, Ilaisa Tuiaki’s defenses, have been productive at BYU.

The Cougars are a multiple team, but they believe they have the personnel along the defensive line to create pressure up front with three or four guys.

📍 Allegiant Stadium pic.twitter.com/mRWkPBcPrM

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 4, 2021

Tyler Batty is the group star and appears to be the next great pass rusher for the Cougars. Uriah Lopa Leiataua is healthy and ready to prove he can be a consistent mainstay this season. Then there’s Navy transfer Pepe Tanuvasa, a star in spring and fall camps at the outside edge.

Keep an eye on Atunaisa Mahe at nose tackle. He has the task of replacing Khyiris Tonga in the interior. After being diagnosed with a frightening blood clot last season, causing him to miss the entire year, he’s back. Some of Mahe’s teammates believe he might be stronger than the current Chicago Bear.

3. First game jitters

Let’s face it; first games are always a crapshoot. When you think a season opener will play out a certain way, it could easily go in a completely different direction. Of course, BYU is the better team than Arizona. But you always have to be leery of double-digit underdogs in week one.

Look at BYU three years ago. They traveled to Tucson to face an Arizona team with Sports Illustrated cover athlete Khalil Tate as a 14-point underdog at quarterback. And BYU came away with a 28-23 win with a conservative offense.

Anything can happen in week one.

BYU/Arizona Questions

1. Will the game sell out?

As of last week, 57,000 tickets were sold for the inaugural Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium. The $2 billion Death Star holds 65,000. So did BYU or Arizona fans make a last-second decision to travel to Sin City? We will find out tonight.

One thing I feel confident about, there is going to be a sea of royal blue.

2. How will BYU’s wide receivers fare against Arizona’s aggressive secondary?

Former BYU assistant DeWayne Walker coaches Arizona defensive backs. A calling card for Walker’s secondaries is aggressiveness. So this will be a good barometer to see how BYU’s deep wide receiver room fares against a secondary that should be better than people are expecting.

It’s a great stage for Gunner Romney, Neil Pau’u, Puka Nacua, Samson Nacua, Chris Jackson, and Keanu Hill to prove Roderick’s statements right that this is the deepest wide receiver room over the past three years in the program.

Score Prediction

BYU is going to win this game. The last time BYU was a double-digit favorite over a Pac-12 team was against Washington State in 2012. That was also a season-opener, with BYU rolling to a 30-6 victory. Arizona’s Jedd Fisch has a massive rebuild on his hands with the Wildcats. They are looking to show progress.

BYU, on the other hand, is out to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.

Expect a heavy dose of Tyler Allgeier early and often, and then I expect BYU’s defense will force some takeaways to set up Jaren Hall’s offense with some short fields.

BYU 34, Arizona 20

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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