SINCE IT'S THE WEEK of the BYU-Utah basketball game, and since part or all of the WAC championship is on the line - not to mention the championship of the Wasatch Front - it's time again to consider the possibilities.
Time for another Benson Poll/Educated Guess.Unfortunately, the official Pollster to the Fans, Lee Benson, is on leave of absence.
Which didn't stop the Poll from being conducted, anyway.
Determining who will win Saturday night's game isn't all that difficult. You drive to the respective schools, pick out 10 relatively bright-looking students, and ask them who's going to win. Here's what the BP/EG found:
The University of Utah campus is feeling uproariously confident about the Utes' chances of winning the Big Game and the WAC title outright.
A lurking doubt hovers in Provo.
This year's poll produced relatively surprising results. First, it appears everyone interviewed on the U. campus thinks the Utes are going to win, despite the fact BYU won the first meeting this year. Apparently so does everyone off campus. Sharon Kottler, a senior education major from Westminster College, was relaxing on a bench at the U. campus this week when she was asked about the game. She hastened to point out she isn't a U. student, but went wholeheartedly with the Utes anyway.
"By 20," she said. "They're just going to win."
The returns were less certain in Provo. Nobody at BYU picked the Cougars to win by more than 12. Though seven BYU students predicted a Cougar win, a full 30 percent of those polled picked the Utes.
"Utah will win because they're playing on their home court," explained BYU freshman engineering major Jeromy Humpherys.
Such dire predictions didn't affect everyone involved. There were the usual enthusiasts who figured you can't beat religion when it comes to predicting basketball. "I'm not really a basketball person but I'm BYU proud," said BYU freshman Amy Weir, a molecular biology major.
Then she added, "Besides, BYU has the spirit of God."
Which doesn't explain why Jim McMahon won both years he started at quarterback. But it sounded good.
BYU pre-physical therapy senior Mark Conlin had the Cougars winning by nine but reconsidered. "I'm applying to the University of Utah physical therapy program. Maybe I should make it closer," he said.
Joe Jensen, a senior English major at BYU, predicted a double-overtime Utah win, even going so far as to blame himself in advance. "First," he said, "every event I've watched this year, BYU lost."
He's seen two BYU football games, two basketball games and one volleyball game, either televised or in person.
"I'm 0-for-5," he added.
"Second," he continued, "is the game is at 10 p.m. And since the game will go into two overtimes, then we're getting into the Sabbath and BYU will lose. Utah can play on Sunday and still win."
Then in a wave of remorse, he explained, "I don't think I better watch this," he added. "I'm a little paranoid."
Up on the U. campus, the mood was far more upbeat, where they figured the Utes will overrun the Cougars. "It's gonna be 80-to-nil," said Irfan Ali, a freshman computer engineering major. "I'm thinking we're going to kick some butt."
(Aside note: The aforementioned prediction skewed the numbers when it came to predicting margin of victory. It gives the Utes an average victory margin of 16.6 points.)
Matt Crockett, a freshman chemistry major, picked the Utes by five, reasoning that "blue is for babies."
Matt Hansen, a sophomore communications major, looked southward before figuring an overtime Ute win "because Geneva Steel will put out too much pollution and BYU won't be able to practice."
Environment being a hot button at the U.
Senior engineering student Jim Campbell figured the Utes will win "because the Cougars will still be looking at the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated and won't be able to concentrate."
Assuming, of course, that none of the Utes would be looking at the magazine.
Meanwhile, Stephen Huh, a sophomore communications major, had the Utes by an even dozen. "'Cause we're non-Mormons," he said resolutely.
So there you have it. Of the 20 respondents, 13 picked the Utes, seven picked the Cougars. A thoroughly unscientific survey says the Utes will win the game. The reasons range from Utah having a better team to a BYU fan being jinxed to swimming suits and religion.
Another Benson Poll/Educated Guess is in the books.
With one certainty: If the Utes lose, 100 percent of the people on the campus are going to want to know why.
*****
Benson Poll/Educated Guess
BYU will win Utah will win
U of U students 0 10
BYU students 7 3
Scoring margin
BYU students.....BYU by + 1.9
U of U students..Utah by + 16.6