UTEP game scares the hell out of me

[Thumper]

I love the comments here about how we should roll the Miners, that we should blow them out, that (didn't someone say) we should score 50, etc.

Stop it.

UTEP is better than we think. Hell, Stony Brook is better than we think. Those who think we're going to blow out UTEP just by showing up are delusional. Yes, I'm like the rest of you in hoping that we smoke the Miners and have the game won by halftime. Just don't see it happening.

I do think we win, but I can't see a blowout. That's OK, too. Get a win, go up 1-0 in C-USA games and get ready to face Northwestern State.

That said, here are my predictions for tomorrow:

• 180 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns for Zach Line
• 250-plus passing yards and a passing touchdown (to Keenan Holman?) for J.J. McDermott
• 2 sacks for Ja'Gared Davis

Final score:
SMU 27
UTEP 17

[GiddyUp]

I'm hoping we break out of the trend to play down to our opponent. We are a better football team than UTEP and were last year. I hope the guys are ticked off and show some emotion tomorrow.

You forgot the extra point block by Margus. We need to make Margus T-shirts.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

i think we'll win,
but it is a scary game because if we lost...it would be a disaster
we gotta win the ones we should win
our offense must stop spotting our opponent touchdowns
I suppose thats why JJ is being given a shot 2morrow

[RyanSMU98]

Thumper, you are absolutely right that we should not underestimate UTEP based on their game last week, any more than other teams should judge us solely on the aTm game. That said, I think there are some big opportunities to flex some muscle against these guys, and I only hope that our boys come out with the fire to do it. Zach should be able to run on them all day long, and hopefully JJ can get the passing game going.

The main thing I am looking for is a vast improvement in the defense. They should come out aggressive and try to rattle their new QB by putting him on his butt a few times. I'm still waiting for the LB's flying around, huge D-line pushing, hard hitting crew we have read about all camp. They weren't really there last week, and I hope they come to play this week.

This should be a win, and it will go one of two ways: either SMU comes out looking for redemption and takes a bitter week's worth of frustration out on UTEP and blow them out of Ford, or they will play well enough to win but not much more than that. Either way leads to a W, but I REALLY hope they come out with some rage to work out on the field.

[ALEX LIFESON]

We only scored 14 (sound familiar) points on them last year in a 28-14 loss. They have nine of those starters back. They did have massive loses on offense though.

[Thumper]

Plus our work week was a day shorter. That's easy for those of us who just have to eat and drink tomorrow, but for the guys, a short week can be a big difference.

Go PONIES!

[Big Hoss]

Given how we can't put anyone away with any degree of certainty, every game on our schedule scares the hell out of me.

[Charleston Pony]

I agree we should be concerned; anyone who watched the A$M debacle should wonder where all these posters predicting a blowout are getting their confidence

[SMUer]

New fans.

[RE Tycoon]

I love the comments here about how we should roll the Miners, that we should blow them out, that (didn't someone say) we should score 50, etc.

Stop it.

UTEP is better than we think. Hell, Stony Brook is better than we think. Those who think we're going to blow out UTEP just by showing up are delusional. Yes, I'm like the rest of you in hoping that we smoke the Miners and have the game won by halftime. Just don't see it happening.

I assume you are talking about my post "Bold Prediction", which by definition is just that, a Bold Prediction. Some of you need help with reading comprehension, I also said I wouldn't touch this game's line because of our recent history.

The excuses that Stony Brook is "better than we think" and UTEP by default is as well is total bulsh. They may be a good FCS team, but we are trying to be a top 25 FBS team. I don't know if we score 50, recent history would suggest 21 would be a monumental occurrence, but if we think SMU is where it should be, this is a team we should roll without a doubt.

It's time we expect to, and actually pound teams like this or we are just a .500 CUSA team like last year. Man up and hang 50 on this poor excuse for a team.

[soccermom]

I need to see our defense show up and ready to play. I hope that starting today we will see great play on both sides of the ball and stop shooting ourselves in the foot with mistakes. I think this will be a tough game
KICK 'EM MUSTANGS!!!!

[PonyTales]

I never expect to light it up against a team that beat us the last time we played, regardless to the circumstances that might have played out in that game.

I think we win today, though — GO MUSTANGS! Beat UTEP!

[CalallenStang]

We only scored 14 (sound familiar) points on them last year in a 28-14 loss. They have nine of those starters back. They did have massive loses on offense though.

UTEP is a different team when they are at the Sun Bowl. Tough to play them there. They always get at least one upset a year there.

[redpony]

We want to be BCS- then we need to start playing like a top BCS team. Anything less will not get us there.

GO PONIES!!!