Conference Title & Playoffs in the Balance on Senior Day Against CU

Provo, UT–As the BYU Cougars enter the final regular season game against conference foe Colorado University not only is the Western Conference title in the balance, but first round playoff home game also rides on the Saturday’s outcome.

“We set a series of goals for the year,” said BYU captain Ryan Roundy, “And winning the conference title was high on the list.”

Having gone undefeated last year en route to the inaugural CPD Western Conference championship BYU is looking to sweep the conference again in 2012.

“We accomplished our first goal,” Roundy continued, “Which was to win the Wasatch Cup. Now we need to finish off the season strong with a win against Colorado and win the conference  to  get ready for the playoffs.”

The Cougars have already locked up a playoff berth and can finish no worse than second in the conference behind rival Utah. But a win on Saturday and the conference title will ensure the Cougars host a CPD quarterfinal berth in Provo against the unlikely UCLA Bruins who clinched their playoff berth last weekend by beating Cal Poly SLO 39-13.

Only a 7-plus point loss to the Buffaloes, without BYU scoring four tries, will take the conference title out of Provo and alter the playoff scenario for the Cougars.

Despite the unlikely scenarios BYU head coach David Smyth says his team won’t be looking past Colorado.

“They’re [Colorado] are a very good team,” Smyth said, “We won’t see the same team in Provo that we saw in Boulder last year. They have some exciting play-makers and it will be a completely different scenario on Saturday.”

In 2011, BYU rolled CU by the score of 94-5 with captain Ryan Roundy running-rampant with a CPD-record of 5 tries.

But as 2012 has shown this year’s version of the Buffaloes will pose a greater threat on BYU’s Senior Day.

Colorado holds a 3-3 record and sits alone in third-place ahead of Air Force.  Narrow losses to Arizona (40-36) and Air Force (55-44) have marred an otherwise resurgent season for the CU.

Last week’s loss to Utah in Boulder by 49-30 showed the mettle of a Colorado attack that could score on the defensively stalwart Ute defense.

With no post-season berth on the horizon for the Buffaloes a chance to crash BYU’s Senior Day festivities, if not to deliver an upset and the conference championship to rival Utah, is sure to play on the CU coaching staff and players’ minds.

Post-game festivities will include the chance to honor BYU’s 12 seniors who will likely play their final regular season game in the blue and white on South Field.

BYU and CU will kick-off against at 1pm MT on South Field. Tickets can be bought at the gate for $10 for adults, $5 for students and kids 12 and under are free.

For live scoring updates follow the Cougars on Twitter.