College Football News Preview of SMU-Arkansas State

[Big10Ponyfan]

At least they think we can cover the spread,

Arkansas State (1-1) at SMU (1-2) 8 pm EST Saturday, Sept. 23
Why to watch: Arkansas State gets its final tune up for before it begins the defense of its Sun Belt title against FIU, and this will be a big chance to show its league that it's going to be back and dangerous. SMU put a halt to the slide that started its season with a 45-14 win over Sam Houston State after getting shocked 24-6 by North Texas. This is supposed to be one of the dark-horses in the Conference USA race, but it has hardly played like it so far. If the Mustang offense can use this game to sharpen up, it has a good shot at Tulane next week, but it has to be much, much better to deal with UTEP down the line. A loss to a second Sun Belt team would be disastrous.
Why Arkansas State might win: If North Texas can close down the SMU offense, then Arkansas State should be a brick wall. The Indians and their excellent back seven had trouble with the Oklahoma State offensive balance last week, but SMU doesn't have the sort of offense that can mix things up. Without RB DeMyron Martin, who's out for another few weeks with a broken foot, it's all about QB Justin Willis and his all-around talents. If he's on the mark and able to move the ball down the field consistently, SMU shouldn't have many problems, but if he plays like the new starter the he is, ASU will be alive all game long.
Why SMU might win: SMU's biggest weakness so far has been pass defense, and Arkansas State doesn't throw. In fact, the Indians have the nation's third worst passing game averaging a mere 87.5 yards per game. ASU might be 1-1, but it's only scored 21 points and is having big problems on the lines. The offensive line can run block, but it's not great in pass protection. The defensive line has been good against the run, but it's not doing anything to get into the backfield. In other words, SMU should be able to operate without too much harassment. Whether or not the offense can execute is another story.
Who to watch: Willis is the key to the SMU season, and he might be the X factor in the Conference USA race when all is said and done. He has the talent and he has the arm, and now he has the game that showed just a little of what he might become. Super-accurate so far completing 78% of his passes, he finally got the offense moving against Sam Houston State with 248 yards and five touchdown passes, to go along with a touchdown run. If he can build on that game and come up with another great performance against the Indians, SMU will hit the Conference USA ground running.
What will happen: SMU will be able to throw the ball effectively, Arkansas State won't. The Indians are too one-dimensional to pull off the upset.
CFN Prediction: SMU 23 ... Arkansas State 14... Line: SMU -6.5
Must See Rating: (5 skip

[LonghornFan68]

Sounds about right. I don't know that there will be that much scoring, though. I think something along the lines of 21-13 is about right.

[SmooPower]

Willis is the key to the SMU season, and he might be the X factor in the Conference USA race when all is said and done.

yee haw

[davidsmu94]

I"m hoping we can pull this off, we need momentum going into New Orleans

[Higher Authority]

Good point -- that Tulane game scares the hell out of me. The emotion at that game will completely overshadow the talent advantage or disadvantage. If Tulane can handle the emotion, we're in deep trouble. If it overwhelms them, we'll roll.

First things first: BEAT ARKANSAS STATE!

[BRStang]

Good point -- that Tulane game scares the hell out of me. The emotion at that game will completely overshadow the talent advantage or disadvantage. If Tulane can handle the emotion, we're in deep trouble. If it overwhelms them, we'll roll.

First things first: BEAT ARKANSAS STATE!

Tulane beat Mississippi State--regardless of how poor they are in the SEC right now, they still are an SEC team and should've easily handled Tulane, especially a supposedly Katrina-battered Tulane team. I will be watching LSU play Tulane this weekend, so I'll be watching to see how good they are. But regardless, I don't think anyone can say at this point that SMU will or should "roll" over Tulane.

[BUS]

Win this game and WE HAVE GIVEN TULANE ENOUGH.

[SMU Football Blog]

Good point -- that Tulane game scares the hell out of me. The emotion at that game will completely overshadow the talent advantage or disadvantage. If Tulane can handle the emotion, we're in deep trouble. If it overwhelms them, we'll roll.

First things first: BEAT ARKANSAS STATE!

I can't get a read on the crowd for the Tulane game. I have heard conflicting reports on the number of tickets sold and I have been unable to find anything from an official source. I also think the number of tickets sold may be misleading. There is a big push to buy a lot of tickets. I went to a Rice home opener where they sold more than 50,000 tickets; probably no more 17000 people there.

[jtstang]

I can't get a read on the crowd for the Tulane game. I have heard conflicting reports on the number of tickets sold and I have been unable to find anything from an official source. I also think the number of tickets sold may be misleading. There is a big push to buy a lot of tickets. I went to a Rice home opener where they sold more than 50,000 tickets; probably no more 17000 people there.

The wife and I will be in NO for the weekend of the game along with several others and are thinking about getting tickets.

[Stallion]

"getting" or "buying" tickets?

[jtstang]

"getting" or "buying" tickets?

Getting. Looking into mrydel's Superdome connections even as we speak.

[mrydel]

"getting" or "buying" tickets?

I just now stopped laughing from this. Good one Stallion.

[mrydel]

"getting" or "buying" tickets?

Getting. Looking into mrydel's Superdome connections even as we speak.

Our bank was bought by a Louisiana outfit. If I stay employed I might just have those connections. Too late for this year however.

[OC Mustang]

mrydel,
Who bought your bank, and which bank are you with?
I am with the former Hibernia, now Capital One Bank.
It is a great switch for Texas because it is more easily branded here.
But in LA, I am not sure how the merger is being taken.
Thoughts?
OC Mustang

[mrydel]

mrydel,
Who bought your bank, and which bank are you with?
I am with the former Hibernia, now Capital One Bank.
It is a great switch for Texas because it is more easily branded here.
But in LA, I am not sure how the merger is being taken.
Thoughts?
OC Mustang

Iberia Bank bought Pulaski Bank/Mortgage/Lenders Title Company. They also bought a holding company in NE Arkansas. Right now they are keeping our charter, name and we will operate as an Arkansas division. Seems they like to party. They basically shut down during Mardi Gras, but they said the Arkansas folks would be used to cover for them while they partied. I have been through some of these before but never where they just left everything stay the same. We will even keep the same account numbers. It will be interesting to see how far the change goes.