The game on November 16, 2024, between the BYU Cougars and the Kansas Jayhawks is set to be a thrilling showdown in the Big 12 Conference. It’ll be held at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, kicking off at 10:15 PM ET. This matchup showcases a strong BYU team aiming to keep their perfect record intact, while Kansas is desperate to turn their season around.
BYU Cougars
Right now, the Cougars are sitting at No. 6 with an undefeated record of 9-0. They just pulled off a close win against their rivals, Utah, finishing 22-21 after a clutch scoring drive in the final moments. BYU’s offense is putting up an average of 33.7 points per game, which puts them at 33rd in the nation, and their defense is holding strong, giving up only 19.8 points per game, ranking 21st nationally.
Key players include:
Jake Retzlaff (QB): Retzlaff has passed for more than 1,500 yards this season, boasting a completion percentage of 56.1%, and has also made a notable impact with his rushing ability.
LJ Martin (RB): Martin is at the forefront of the rushing game, averaging more than 68 yards each match.
Chase Roberts (WR): He racked up 91 receiving yards in the last game, proving he’s still a key player in the passing game.
BYU really knows how to make the most of their home turf; they’ve been beating opponents by an average of 18 points when playing at home, and that could be a game-changer in this matchup.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks come into this matchup with a 3-6 record, fresh off a win against Iowa State where they scored 45-36, highlighting their strong offense. Even though they’ve had a tough time in conference games (2-4), Kansas is still one of the top 15 teams in the nation for rushing offense, putting up almost 32 points per game.
Key contributors for Kansas include:
Jalon Daniels (QB): Daniels has passed for 1,816 yards this season, boasting a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 13:9, and he’s also made some notable plays on the ground.
Devin Neal (RB): Neal plays a crucial role in the offense, racking up more than 874 rushing yards and finding the end zone ten times.
Quentin Skinner (WR): Skinner has become a serious deep threat, racking up more than 500 receiving yards and scoring six touchdowns.
Kansas’s defense hasn’t been performing well, giving up an average of 25.9 points per game, putting them near the bottom nationally.
Matchup Dynamics
The stats really lean towards BYU in this game. The SP+ prediction model has BYU winning with a score of 33 to 25, suggesting it’ll be a tight match but still giving the Cougars a solid eight-point edge. The Football Power Index backs this up too, showing BYU with a 60.9% chance of coming out on top. Kansas hasn’t been great on the road, especially when facing stronger teams.
Key Factors
Home Advantage: BYU really shines when they play at home compared to their away games against Kansas. The Cougars have been consistently better than their rivals at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Offensive Firepower: Both teams have the ability to score, but BYU’s well-rounded offense and strong defense give them the upper hand.
Turnover Battle: Both teams have had their fair share of turnover issues, but BYU has the edge when it comes to forcing them, with 21 forced turnovers compared to Kansas’s 15.
Taking everything into account—BYU’s strong home game, Kansas’s issues on defense, and how both teams have been playing lately—it looks like the Cougars are set for a convincing win.
Sports Betting Ace’s Final Score Prediction: BYU Cougars 36 – Kansas Jayhawks 20
This score shows how well BYU managed the game on offense, taking advantage of Kansas’s defensive flaws. The first half should be pretty competitive, but in the end, the Cougars will secure a solid victory as they keep pushing for a spot in the playoffs.