Countdown: 6 Weeks

Tickets have gone on sale across the country.  Media Days have already started.  Camps are going to be starting in the next 3 weeks.  Here's part I of a post about BYU's schedule.

We all know scheduling is important: you don't want too many difficult games in a row, you don't want any trap games, and you would love a bye week before a big game.  Here's a look at BYU's first three opponents, week by week, and what the schedule looks like for them.

Week 1: Washington
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: Syracuse at home.
Following Game: Nebraska at home.
Chances they are beat up coming into BYU game: not much.  Fall camp is designed to allow time to overcome early nicks associated with putting pads on for the first time, and still be ready for Week One.
Chances they are looking past BYU: none.  With a former BYU QB leading the Huskies, you can be they will be ready to play.  With Jake Locker hopeful for a nice start to a potential Heisman campaign, attaining bowl eligibility in his final season, and a possible number one overall draft pick, he'll be looking for that green front 7 of BYU's to give him some running room.

Week 2: at Air Force
Previous Game: Northwestern State.
Next Game: at Oklahoma.
Following Game: at Wyoming.
Chances they are beat up coming into BYU game: not likely.  They scheduled a cream puff to get some game experience with lesser risk of injury.
Chances they are looking past BYU: slim.  While OU is a huge game looming the week after, getting one of the big three at home, early in the year, with a young defense is even bigger for the Falcons.  They can move up the conference pecking order with a win.  They can confuse a young BYU front 7 with their dynamic rushing attack (and play-action passing game) and can disrupt BYU's offensive flow, led by a QB likely to only have had ONE collegiate start, with their crazy schemes on D.

Week 3: at Florida State
Previous Game: at Oklahoma
Next Game: Wake Forest
Following Game: at Virginia
Chances they are beat up coming into BYU game: quite likely.  While the Big XII is generally known for their aerial passing attacks, Oklahoma is one of the exceptions to that stereotypical soft style of play.  They play a very physical brand of football.  With Christian Ponder being such a high-profile QB, OU's D will do everything they can to get after him.  OU's O-Line is also mammoth and could wear down Florida State's front 7.  BYU has a fairly large O-Line of their own to follow up with.
Chances they are looking past BYU: 50%.  After smoking BYU in Provo last year (and putting up over 50 points in the process), they may not think much of this BYU team that is younger, less experienced, and with even less size on defense.  They start into conference play the following week with Wake Forest.  Also factor in that BYU could easily come into the game 0-2, and is unlikely to be ranked, even if they are 2-0, and they might just circle this one as a win.  I'm sure most Seminole fans already have!

Next 3 games to come later in the week.