Tuesday Tidbits, 2010 Week Fourteen

BYU Crossing the 50
All season I have been tracking BYU's ability to finish drives.  After several successful games in a row, in terms of percentage, BYU took a step backwards at getting points when crossing the 50.  Granted, New Mexico, CSU, UNLV, and Wyoming's defenses are not Utah's.  Playing at Rice-Eccles in Salt Lake against Utah is nothing like playing at home or at CSU.
BYU had 7 possessions on the other side of the 50 and ended up with 16 points.  BYU needs to get that turned around in their bowl game to have a chance at a winning season.  They are going to playing a decent C-USA team (probably SMU or UCF) or else Fresno State.  They will probably need more than 2.29 points/possession on the right side of the 50.
On a side note, if BYU wins their bowl game, it will be their 4th consecutive winning season, and 5th straight non-losing season.  Their streak is as follows, from most recent to least recent: 11-2, 10-3, 11-2, 11-2, and 6-6.

The Texas Factor
Texas lost 5 games at home this season, with a 2-5 record at home.  2007 was the last time they lost even a single game at home (Kansas State).  In 2006, they lost to Ohio State.  In 2003, they lost to Arkansas.  In 1999, they lost to NC State and Kansas State.  In 1997, they lost to Colorado and Texas Tech.  Blah, blah, blah.  1989 was the last time Texas lost 3 home games.  1956 is the only other time in the history of Texas football they lost 5 home games (they were 0-5 that season at home, which immediately preceded the hiring of Darrell K. Royal, which name might sound familiar: they did name the stadium after him).
This was obviously a down year for Texas Longhorn football.  So how down was it?  Well, I looked back at the 7 home losses they had from 1997 to 2009.  Never did a team beat them in Austin and DROP in the AP rankings like Texas A&M did this weekend.  After beating their hated rivals on Thanksgiving weekend, they dropped from 18th to 19th.  That is absolutely incredible.  BYU fans sure hope that a win in Austin next year is 1) possible and 2) not detrimental to their ranking.

2012 MWC vs. 2012 Big East
With TCU jumping off the MWC ship for the Big East in 2012, I thought I'd compare the two conferences side-by-side, top-to-bottom (excluding TCU).  I will write this piece later in the week, or perhaps between the end of the regular season and the bowl games.  Please correct me where you think I am wrong.

I think the 2012 MWC programs are currently in this order:
Boise State
Nevada
Air Force
Hawaii (if an MWC member by 2012)
San Diego State
Fresno State
Wyoming
Colorado State
UNLV
New Mexico

I think the Big East programs are currently in this order:
West Virginia
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Connecticut
Syracuse
UCF (if a Big East member by 2012)
Cincinnati
Louisville
Rutgers
Villanova (if a Big East member by 2012)

Remember that these are my opinions on the states of the programs, not necessarily where they are at currently in the standings.  Please comment (or e-mail me at moknowssports@gmail.com) with how you think I should order them for my head-to-head comparison.