BYU Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2019 season

STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 14: Tanner Mangum #12 of the Brigham Young Cougars hands the ball to Ula Tolutau #5 during the first half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) /

USC is another team that, like Tennessee, comes into 2019 with big expectations. Unlike Jeremy Pruitt, however, Trojans coach Clay Helton finds himself squarely on the hot seat after failing to take USC to a bowl game last season. BYU’s showdown at home against the Trojans is going to serve as a major litmus test for Helton’s future employment opportunities in Los Angeles.

Working in USC’s favor is the fact that they have a solid returning offense with more than enough talent to blow most teams out of the water. Working against USC is the fact that this assemblage of talent has dealt with the flux of multiple coordinator changes in recent years as Helton scrambles to find the right combinations to save his job. The Trojans also have to deal with the loss of a large portion of last year’s defensive productivity.

For BYU, that means this contest could turn into a shootout. Look for Wilson and USC quarterback JT Daniels to trade eye-popping throws all day long through the Provo air, as both teams give the scoreboard operator plenty of work. By the final whistle, though, the Cougars will have another statement win that will likely propel them into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 2019.

Prediction: USC 41, BYU 45 (2-1)

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