SMU, which gave up 40 or more points four times and more than 6 yards a play, is just happy to be playing in a bowl as its last two scheduled postseason appearances were wiped out by COVID-19. This is BYU’s last hurrah as an independent as it heads off to the greener pastures of the Big 12.
BYU vs. SMU.
Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. ET at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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ESPN is airing the game.
Because of BYU’s poor pass rush, SMU will put it in the air. Prediction: SMU, 44-37.
Scooby Axson: SMU
Jace Evans: SMU
Paul Myerberg: BYU
Erick Smith: SMU
Eddie Timanus: SMU
Dan Wolken: SMU
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College football historians would see these two teams in a bowl game and immediately go back to the 1980 Holiday Bowl, when BYU somehow scored 21 points in the final 2:30, ending on Jim McMahon’s last-second Hail Mary to win the game 46-45. In an odd twist, the last time BYU was a member of a conference was 2010, ending the season in the New Mexico Bowl.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the reason the modern-day versions of these teams are playing in New Mexico is because, during the 2022 season, they have mostly been allergic to defense. Injuries derailed the Cougars during the early part of this season, and their up-and-down season featured a four-game losing streak to go along with their current run of winning three games in a row. It might be a long night for the BYU pass rush against a passing team like SMU. The Cougars have had 13 sacks in 12 games; only Colorado had a worst time getting to the QB.
In the final week of the regular season, Hall suffered an ankle injury. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said this week that Hall “is banged up” and that “hopefully we can get Jaren through this and get him on the field.” One of the most efficient quarterbacks who hasn’t gotten much publicity, Hall threw for 3,171 yards with 31 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has scored three rushing touchdowns in the last three games.
Rice, who declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 10, has been battling a toe injury for the majority of the season. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said Rice wanted to play in the bowl game, but his injury needs time to heal, so he be sidelined. A run-after-catch threat, Rice can use his prototypical height and speed to provide a catch radius, whether he’s open or not. He torched defenses for 96 catches, 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the nation in receiving yards per game.
One from each team.
The Oklahoma Sooners transfer threw nine TD passes in a 77-63 win over Houston. In his last four games, he has 15 touchdowns and two interceptions while improving his completion percentage.
An early-season ankle injury was a blow to the Cougars, but Nacua still led the team in catches and touchdown passes while playing only nine games. BYU must get Nacua involved early and often, or it could be a long afternoon for the offense.
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