2013 Record: 11-3

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Under'

Odds courtesy of 5Dimes.

The wacky Mormons are still getting used to life as an independent and were really a non-entity in the 2013 season. Sure, their win over Texas in early September caught some headlines. But losses to Virginia and Utah, as well as a blowout loss to Washington in a third-tier bowl game, really puts things into perspective for the Cougars.

BYU was a consistent Top 25 team from 2006 to 2009. But they have been ranked for just one week in the last four years and coach Bronco Mendenhall's seat might start to warm with another mediocre effort this year. Bronco's boys welcome back 14 returning starters, including intriguing quarterback Taysom Hill. They need to be more efficient on offense (they were No. 14 in total yards but just No. 55 in scoring) and the defense needs to improve (No. 47 total defense). But with 11 senior starters and 21 of 22 upperclassmen starting this is a very experienced roster.

The Cougars open with road games at Connecticut and at revenge-minded Texas. But then a soft spot in the schedule opens up, with four of their next five games in Provo. After a trip to Boise State on Oct. 24 the Cougars play their final four games against Middle Tennessee, UNLV, Savannah State and Cal.

If BYU lost its three toughest games - at Texas, at Central Florida and at Boise State - they could still beat this season win total. The problem is that enough of the other teams have the talent to pull an upset. And this BYU squad hasn't proven that it is above a slip-up. I think that 8.0 or 7.5 would've been an easy bet. But at this height I would say to play the Cougars 'under'.

2014 BYU Cougars Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Fri, Aug 29th, 2014 at Connecticut 07:00 PM Rentschler Field

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 at Texas 07:30 PM Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial

Thu, Sep 11th, 2014 Houston 09:00 PM LaVell Edwards Stadium

Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 Virginia TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium

Fri, Oct 3rd, 2014 Utah State 10:15 PM LaVell Edwards Stadium

Thu, Oct 9th, 2014 at UCF 07:30 PM Bright House Networks Stadium

Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 Nevada TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium

Fri, Oct 24th, 2014 at Boise State 09:00 PM Bronco Stadium/Lyle Smith Field

Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 at Middle Tennessee 03:30 PM Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium/Jon

Sat, Nov 15th, 2014 UNLV TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium

Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 Savannah State TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium

Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 at California TBA California Memorial Stadium

All Times EST

Robert Ferringo was the top football handicapper in the country last year, earning nearly $8,000 in total football profit in 2013-14 and posting one of the best seasons in America. He hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58) and was amazing down the stretch, closing with 11 of 14 winning NFL weeks and 12 of 15 overall winning football weeks. Robert has posted 3 of 4 winning football seasons, 6 of 7 winning NFL seasons, 30 of 44 winning football months, and 6 of 7 winning NFL preseasons. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System posted another winning season (now 2-for-2) and is 83-58 over the last two years (58.9 percent).

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