Brigham Young Cougars

2005 Season Summary

In Gary Crowton's first season as head coach at BYU, the Cougars started off 12-0 straight up but lost 45-72 shootout at Hawaii in their final regular season game, which proved to be a game that was the beginning of the end for Crowton as BYU never quite recovered and went on to go 14-22 straight up for the rest of his tenure.

Barely missed out on a bowl

In Crowton's final season at BYU, the Cougars started off 5-4 straight up and 6-3 against the spread, needed just one win in their final two games to make a bowl. But the Cougars lost those final two games both straight up and against the spread and Crowton was out of work, ultimately failing in the tough assignment of replacing Hall of Famer LaVell Edwards, the father of BYU football. After that 12-2 season in his rookie campaign, Crowton presided over three consecutive losing seasons without bowls.

A new old coach

During an offseason that alternated between embarrassment and eventful, BYU conducted a massive search for Crowton's replacement before ending up with a new old coach in Crowton's defensive coordinator, Bronco Mendenhall, as the head man.

Mendenhall immediately threw out Crowton's thick playbook for a simpler version that featured the Texas Tech style spread attack. Crowton, to his credit, did not leave an empty cupboard and BYU was touted as a potential "sleeper" team entering 2005.

Proved not to be ready for prime time

BYU opened the season at home as a 2.5-point dog in Mendenhall's much-anticipated debut against Boston College, a perennial Bowl team. The more veteran Golden Eagles scored a 20-3 win. This was followed by a 45-10 win over 1-AA competition.

Next on the schedule was another tough home game against TCU, a perennial Conference USA contender that had bolted for the MWC. BYU was a 3-point chalk against their new conference rival and lost a heartbreaking 50-51 game in the final moments to fall to 1-2 straight up and 0-2 against the spread as the Cougars proved not to be ready for prime time, at least not yet.

Rock bottom

BYU suffered a hang over from the devastating loss to TCU when they were blown out at inconsistent San Diego State 10-31 as 3-point dogs to reach rock bottom at 0-3 against the spread.

Depleted appeal with the masses meant increased value

The Cougars poor start got the mainstream gambling public off of them quickly. BYU's depleted appeal with the masses meant increased value, however, for contrarian gamblers who waited for a bargain.

In their next game at New Mexico, BYU scored a 27-24 upset win and cover as 7.5-point dogs. This was followed by a 24-14 win over Colorado State as bargain 3-point home dogs for their second consecutive cover.

Up next was a trip to improved Notre Dame, who was a hefty 18.5-point chalk in a 49-23 blowout win and cover which served to further increase BYU's value. High profile national TV blowout losses can often turn the public against a team as this one did here in the case of BYU.

Bargain values resumed

BYU came home to face Air Force as a 7-point chalk and scored a 62-41 win as the bargain values resumed against the betting board. A 55-14 blowout win at UNLV as 12.5-point chalks was next. This was followed by a 35-21 win at Wyoming as 3-point chalks, which was BYU's fifth cover in six games.

Value was restored

The "word" was out on BYU, who was a popular choice as a 10-point chalk at home against Utah in a 34-41 loss. They rebounded with a 28-35 loss/cover as an 8.5-point dog against Cal and their value was restored.