Utah Week by Week Scheduling Advantage or Disadvantage

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- 07/21/2019 at 2:53 PM #97234
  5
  
  UteThunder
  Ute Fan
  
  @utethunder
  
  Week 1 – Disadvantage: @ BYU – We open the season on the road for the first time since we beat Michigan 25-23 in Ann Arbor back in 2008. The Cougars do play @ Tennessee the following week but there is absolutely no chance BYU will be looking ahead to the Volunteers.
  
  Week 2 – Advantage: vs NIU – We’re at home and, coming off of a Thursday opener, have two extra days to rest/prep for the Huskies. Only negative is we will be coming off of an emotional and hard fought rivalry game while NIU will be coming off of an FCS tune up against Illinois State. The Huskies do have a tough game the following week @ Nebraska but I think Pac-12 Utah keeps their attention enough to prevent them from looking ahead.
  
  Week 3 – Neutral: vs Idaho State – We’re at home but the Bengals will get a couple of extra days to rest/prep for this one as they play on Thursday the previous week and have a week 1 bye. Utah also plays USC the following week and will no doubt be looking ahead to the Trojans. If this were an FBS opponent, I would call it a disadvantage but let’s get real here . . . it’s Idaho freakin’ State.
  
  Week 4 – Neutral: @ USC – Pac-12 opener on the road, both teams playing on a short week (Sat. to Fri.) but USC will be coming off of a couple of tough games vs Stanford and @ BYU while we are coming off of a glorified scrimmage. The Trojans also have a road game @ Washington to look forward to the following week while Utah gets Washington State. Not sure either team will be looking ahead but if one of them is going to it is most likely USC.
  
  Week 5 – Advantage: vs Washington State – At home and with an extra day to rest/prep coming off of the Friday game @ USC. The Cougars will be coming off of two tough games @ Houston and vs UCLA. Both the Utes and Cougars go into a bye the following Saturday.
  
  Week 6 – BYE
  
  Week 7 – Advantage: @ Oregon State – We’ll be on the road but coming off of a bye while the Beavers will be coming off of back to back games vs Stanford and @ UCLA.
  
  Week 8 – Advantage: vs ASU – At home with the Devils coming off of a bye followed by a home game vs Washington State and we’re coming off that same bye week and what should be a much easier road game against Oregon State.
  
  Week 9 – Advantage: vs Cal – At home for the second consecutive week, only our second and final two week home stand of the season. One possible disadvantage is that we get caught looking ahead to Washington the following week.
  
  Week 10 – Disadvantage: @ Washington – We’re on the road and the Huskies are coming off of a bye. If the Huskies are anywhere close to as good as they were last year, this will be our most difficult game of the season by far.
  
  Week 11 – BYE
  
  Week 12 – Advantage: vs UCLA – Both teams will be coming off of their second bye of the season but Utah is at home and the Bruins have back to back rivalry games @ USC and vs Cal following this game.
  
  Week 13 – Disadvantage: @ Arizona – The game is in Tucson and the Wildcats will be just two weeks removed from their third bye week of the season (they play week 0 @ Hawaii and then have a bye week 1).
  
  Week 14 – Advantage: vs Colorado – We’re at home and the Buffs will be coming off of a tough game vs Washington.
- 07/21/2019 at 6:00 PM #97235
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  UtMtBiker
  Ute Fan
  
  @utmtbiker
  
  Week 1: playing 30 miles from home in stadium half filled with your colors and fans isn’t a disadvantage. Playing a G5 school in your backyard is an advantage.
  - 07/21/2019 at 6:28 PM #97237
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    Central Coast Ute
    Ute Fan
    
    @flip2848
    
    I have to agree, for a road game, this is an advantage.
- 07/21/2019 at 8:16 PM #97243
  6
  
  Tony (admin)
  Admin/Founder
  
  @admin
  
  How could playing Idaho State not be an advantage?
  - 07/21/2019 at 9:09 PM #97250
    1
    
    UteThunder
    Ute Fan
    
    @utethunder
    
    The factors surrounding the game would make it a scheduling disadvantage if it were any other opponent. ISU gets extra time to prepare and we are going to be looking ahead to USC. If this were a better FCS opponent, it would be a classic trap game.
    - 07/22/2019 at 10:59 AM #97257
      3
      
      Tony (admin)
      Admin/Founder
      
      @admin
      
      They could prepare forever and it wouldn’t matter.
    - 07/23/2019 at 11:40 PM #97330
      
      Utesbyfive
      Ute Fan
      
      @utesbyfive
      
      Not. A. Friggin. Chance.
      
      If Idaho State wins, I’ll apply for a job at that Taco Bell across from campus.
- 07/21/2019 at 8:24 PM #97244
  2
  
  UtesRule
  Ute Fan
  
  @utesrule
  
  Game 1 is DEFINITELY an advantage for Utah…RES (Rice Eccles South) is our home away from home!
- 07/21/2019 at 8:36 PM #97248
  1
  
  ironman1315
  Ute Fan
  
  @ironman1315
  
  Judging by history, I would say that Utah has a significant advantage going into LES.
  - 07/21/2019 at 8:49 PM #97249
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    TheJuggernaut
    Ute Fan
    
    @thejuggernaut
    
    Absolutely, Utah is 9-3 at LES since 1993.
- 07/21/2019 at 9:20 PM #97251
  5
  
  UteThunder
  Ute Fan
  
  @utethunder
  
  For everyone claiming that playing our season opener in Provo is an advantage, consider the following:
  
  1) Do we come back from that 20 point deficit if last year’s game was in Provo instead of SLC? I say no. The home crowd played a huge role in us gaining the momentum to come back. We won’t have that in Provo, they will.
  
  2) Whittingham is 6-2 in season openers vs FBS teams. The two losses were ON THE ROAD where he is 1-2 in season openers.
  
  3) Whittingham is 10-3 vs BYU. Two of those three losses were ON THE ROAD in Provo where he is 4-2.
  
  There is absolutely zero advantage for Utah as far as when and where this game is scheduled. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a bit of an overall scheduling advantage because it is one less game we have to leave the state for, but that is where any kind of advantage begins and ends.
  - 07/21/2019 at 11:17 PM #97252
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    EagleMountainUte
    Ute Fan
    
    @battlegroundute
    
    Disagree on all points. Utah owns them.
  - 07/22/2019 at 8:58 AM #97255
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    UtMtBiker
    Ute Fan
    
    @utmtbiker
    
    1) Utah is never down 20 if that game isn’t the week before the P12 Championship and we don’t have 87 percent of our offensive production injured including our QB1, RB1, WR1.
    
    2) 6-2 is a great road record. The percentage is above the average FBS road win % over the last 10 years. The only disadvantage is the fact that it is a road game in the first place. BYU is a mid level G5 team and any P5 team should see this as a scheduling win for a road game on thier schedule.
    
    3) Last loss in Provo was nearly 10 years ago. A lot has changed for Utah in 10 years. I don’t think a loss 10 and 12 years ago is relevant considering where these programs stand now.
    - 07/22/2019 at 12:55 PM #97263
      1
      
      UteThunder
      Ute Fan
      
      @utethunder
      
      The 6-2 record is in ALL season openers against FBS teams, both home and away. The road record is 1-2.
      - 07/22/2019 at 6:29 PM #97286
        
        UtMtBiker
        Ute Fan
        
        @utmtbiker
        
        Oh gotcha. I missread that. Do you consider BYU a more difficult road opener game than the others?
        
        07/22/2019 at 8:57 PM #97292
        
        UteThunder
        Ute Fan
        
        @utethunder
        
        The road openers we’ve had under Kyle were UCLA 2006 (loss), Oregon State 2007 (loss), & Michigan 2008 (win).
        
        UCLA finished the year 7-6 with a blowout bowl loss against Florida State.
        
        Oregon State finished the year 9-4 with a bowl win over Maryland.
        
        Michigan finished the year with a 3-9 record.
        
        I would say this BYU team is better than that Michigan team and probably on par with that UCLA team but probably not as good as that Oregon State team. I would also say that this Utah team is much better than the 2006 & 2007 Utah teams, possibly better than the 2008 team.
  - 07/22/2019 at 10:09 AM #97256
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    Crazyforu
    Ute Fan
    
    @crazyforu
    
    All fair points, keep in mind the following though.
    
    Utah was missing Moss and Huntely, those two are massive difference makers. I think something like 85% of the offense last year? Also, Utah really didn’t have anything to play for in last years game. Yes, I know that sounds terrible to say as it was the rivalry game. That said though, they already clinched the South, were just trying to not get get hurt going in the P12 Championship game.
    
    Not saying it is an advantage or not, Utah fans should be quite confident going in the Y game though. Whit and crew have everything in front of them, instead of behind them in last years game.
- 07/22/2019 at 6:11 AM #97254
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  Anfernee
  Ute Fan
  
  @anfernee
  
  Advantage: @ RICE-ECCLES SOUTH
- 07/22/2019 at 12:58 PM #97264
  4
  
  GameForAnyFuss
  Ute Fan
  
  @gameforanyfuss
  
  Honestly I consider BYU-P to be a scheduling disadvantage no matter when or where we play them. There’s just no upside to that game. None.
- 07/22/2019 at 6:30 PM #97287
  
  PhiladelphiaUte
  Ute Fan
  
  @philadelphiaute
  
  The team down south 3-9 (.250) in WACistan against us since 1993. That’s not much of a “homefield advantage” for the zoobs. Just about the only disadvantage I see in that game is that the indy-WACers want it more. It’s their “Super Bowl”. Our guys have shown a desire to just phone it in. During the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl, they were seen texting on their cell phones on the sidelines, even before the start of the 2nd-Qtr. They didn’t really get serious about the “whY?” until midway through the 4th. Last year was the only game since 2012 where we didn’t take a huge lead in the game, then let them initiate a furious comeback before clamping back down to preserve the win. And of course last year was a disgrace. We should have done to them in 1st and/or 2nd Qtrs what we inevitably did in the 4th.
  
  They just want it more. That’s their only edge.
  
  Ours is (1) better talent, and (2) better coaches.