BYU Football: 3 keys to victory in 2019 Holy War showdown vs. Utah

BYU football enters its 2019 opener as a 6.5-point underdog in the annual Holy War showdown against Utah. Here’s what it’ll take for the Cougars to win.

Rivalries always bring out the best in teams and their opponents. As BYU prepares to host Utah in the season opener for both teams, the Cougars will take the turf at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo as a 6.5-point underdog.

After losing eight straight against their Holy War rivals, BYU fans are hoping that this is the year the Cougars finally break through and take down the Utes. Given that Utah enters 2019 as a Pac-12 contender and a dark-horse candidate for a College Football Playoff bid, a BYU victory would be a major statement for the independent program.

The most recent half-dozen showdowns between these two schools have all ended with single-score margins of victory. In many ways what BYU needs more than anything are a few lucky bounces.

But when it comes to college football, a team might benefit from lucky bounces — but they cannot depend on them as a key to finding success. So what will it take for the Cougars to break through and finally end their streak of futility in the Holy War? Here are three keys to victory that need to fall into place for BYU to take down Utah on Thursday.