2007 Way-Too-Early Predictions

[CalallenStang]

Ok guys...I will preface this with a disclaimer: this is WAY TOO EARLY to give an accurate prediction of the season so this is subject to change. But, I wanted to go ahead and throw this out there to encourage discussion on expectations for next season. So, with no further adieu, I give you my way-too-early predictions for each game of next season.

Game 1: Texas Tech
Monday, September 3
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
As it stands right now, this game is scheduled for a 3 PM start time in order to accomodate ESPN. The result will be a game played in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees for at least the first half. This favors Tech, who obviously is able to recruit better athletes and has more depth (see Texas A&M game in 2005). The Tech fans who will comprise 2/3 of Ford Stadium will think the weather quite hospitable, as they are hardened by their years on the wind-swept plains of Lubbock. Tech fans and players outlast SMU, and despite the Mustangs holding the Red Raiders close through the first 40 minutes of play, the final 20 minutes belong to the Red Raiders.
Prediction: Tech 49 SMU 24

Game 2: North Texas
Saturday, September 8
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
Dodgeball comes to Ford Stadium. In his first winnable game (UNT opens the season the week before at Oklahoma), the former SLC coach will find himself in an unfamiliar position: leading the latter in a battle between schools featuring reputations of being white-collar and blue-collar. UNT sees SMU as a rival (if you don't believe that, please see their press release regarding their 2007 schedule, which uses "rival" and its varient "rivalry" three times in reference to SMU) whereas SMU sees UNT as a nuisance (see previous threads on Ponyfans). UNT also has two more days to prepare. However, SMU has the revenge factor, and UNT and Dodge won't be 100% on the same page just yet. Thank goodness.
Prediction: SMU 31 UNT 21

Game 3: Arkansas State
Saturday, September 15
Indian Stadium, Jonesboro, AR
What's with the Microsoft Office-esque WordArt in the heading of the ASU athletics site (asuindians.com)? But I digress. ASU plays SMU after an away game at Texas and a home game against longtime rival Memphis. ASU was blown away by SMU last year and will be coming off two games which they will see as more important to prepare for than SMU in preseason. To top it off, the week afterwards, the Indians travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee. They will overlook SMU once again, and despite the partisan crowd at Indian Stadium, the Mustangs will make a loud statement.
Prediction: SMU 59 ASU 14

Game 4: TCU
Saturday, September 22
Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth
The Frogs will play Air Force two days before the Mustangs play ASU, so they have 2 extra days to prepare for the game. While being sandwiched between two MWC games creates a trap-game situation favoring SMU, the rivalry aspect of this matchup will, unfortunately, make sure that TCU is not overlooking the Mustangs too much. TCU has superior athletes and they will show them off in front of their home crowd, who will push their team on to victory.
Prediction: TCU 35 SMU 10

Game 5: UTEP
Saturday, September 29
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
Former Florida State receiver Fred Rouse will play his first game in a major media market since transferring to UTEP. Mike Price will have his Miners ready, but they just have too many other holes to fill from last year, when the Mustangs almost beat them in El Paso. SMU can't hold Rouse in check, but it doesn't matter because UTEP can't get him the ball enough.
Prediction: SMU 28 UTEP 17

Game 6: Southern Miss
Saturday, October 13
M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
The Rock is a tough place to play, but SMU may be a bit of a trap for the Golden Eagles considering the game is sandwiched between four ESPN games on USM's schedule. To top it off, SMU is USM's homecoming. I wasn't impressed with USM last year, despite the fact that they won CUSA East, so my prediction is an upset:
Prediction: SMU 24 USM 21

Game 7: Tulane
Saturday, October 20
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
Tulane under Bob Toledo will not be dumb enough to try a fake punt within their own 10 yard line. Still, Tulane has lesser talent than SMU, as was proven last year when a Tulane team on an emotional high could not get the job done in the Superdome on CSTV. Toledo also doesn't have his own personnel in yet.
Prediction: SMU 31 Tulane 17

Game 8: Tulsa
Saturday, October 27
Skelly Stadium, Tulsa, OK
If Todd Graham can do what he did at Rice, think about what he can do at Tulsa with a QB like Paul Smith. SMU has had their way with Tulsa lately, but I think that ends this year.
Prediction: Tulsa 38 SMU 27

Game 9: Houston
Sunday, November 4
Robertson Stadium, Houston
Anthony Aldridge is a really really really good back. That much we know. What we don't know is how good Kevin Kolb's replacement will be. My feeling is that he will not be as good as Kolb, allowing the SMU defense to focus more of its energy on stopping Aldridge. SMU gets a road-game win on ESPN, but no one will know it since the nation will be watching Sunday Night Football on NBC.
Prediction: SMU 34 UH 24

Game 10: Rice
Saturday, November 10
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
Jarett Dillard is still at Rice. Chase Clement is still at Rice. Todd Graham isn't, however. Major Applewhite is gone. David Bailiff is sitll adjusting to Division I-A. SMU wins.
Prediction: SMU 38 Rice 27

Game 11: UCF
Saturday, November 17
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
We play Orsini's old team in Orsini's new home. All I have to say is this: UCF disappointed last season. George O'Leary may not be as good as advertised. Perhaps that is why he lied on his resume when he tried to get that Notre Dame job. It will still be a close game, though.
Prediction: SMU 27 UCF 21

Game 12: Memphis
Saturday, November 24
Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN
Notice that at this point, SMU should be competing for a comference championship (I have us for one conference loss right now). If we are, we need to familiarize ourselves with the Liberty Bowl and get off to a good start there with a win over Memphis on November 24. The Tigers were horrific last year, and this year will probably not be much better. After the game, Tiger fans will be wondering whatever happened to D'Angelo Williams...and proclaiming themselves a basketball school.
Prediction: SMU 45 Memphis 21

Way-Too-Early Predicted Record: 9-3 (7-1) 1st in CUSA West
That needs to be our expectation. I will revise this as the season gets closer and we learn more about ourselves and our opponents. Anything less than 7 wins should be considered unacceptable this year.

[mrydel]

I do not believe there is a Sunday Night NFL game on the Sunday we play Houston. At least that is what has been reported to date.

[Stallion]

So you are predicting a 45 point road victory at Arkansas St., 24 point road victory at Memphis, 10 point road at Houston and a 3 point road victory at Hattiesburg Mississippi. Rah! Rah! Rah! We will have our hands full to even get a road victory at Arkansas St. or Memphis. This is a school that has lost 9 straight road games to Rice. Every year 75% of this board predicted victories in those games. I always question whether fans that predict easy road victories have watched much College Football over the years. SMU has won 18% of its road games since the DP-about 1 per year. The most common error by fans predicting a team's record is underestimating the difficulty of winning on the road.

[jkflamebo]

thosea are some highly questionable predictions for the stangs, i like the sunshine mentality

[LakeHighlandsPony]

Way to shake those Pom-Poms!! Not a chance

[mr. pony]

[quote="LakeHighlandsPony"]Way to shake those Pom-Poms!! Not a chance[/quote]

Yeah. We beat Tech, 30-29.

[CalallenStang]

So you are predicting a 45 point road victory at Arkansas St., 24 point road victory at Memphis, 10 point road at Houston and a 3 point road victory at Hattiesburg Mississippi. Rah! Rah! Rah! We will have our hands full to even get a road victory at Arkansas St. or Memphis. This is a school that has lost 9 straight road games to Rice. Every year 75% of this board predicted victories in those games. I always question whether fans that predict easy road victories have watched much College Football over the years. SMU has won 18% of its road games since the DP-about 1 per year. The most common error by fans predicting a team's record is underestimating the difficulty of winning on the road.

Oh, I agree that it is very tough to win on the road. I just think that the other factors involved in those games outweigh that. Houston and Southern Miss could very easily go the other way, though. That's why I said that anything less than 7 wins is unacceptable.

[abezontar]

I believe we will win at least one game, and lose at least one game.

[PlanoStang]

I came up with 7-5 provided we dodge the dodgeball.

8-4 with another miracle on Mockingbird 30-29 win against TT.
It's 108, and Tech wilts on the SUNSHINEY side of Ford.

[jtstang]

Ok guys...I will preface this with a disclaimer: this is WAY TOO EARLY to give an accurate prediction of the season so this is subject to change. But, I wanted to go ahead and throw this out there to encourage discussion on expectations for next season.

No expectations.

[smu diamond m]

Ok guys...I will preface this with a disclaimer: this is WAY TOO EARLY to give an accurate prediction of the season so this is subject to change. But, I wanted to go ahead and throw this out there to encourage discussion on expectations for next season.

No expectations.

Just pleasant surprises?

[CalallenStang]

Ok guys...I will preface this with a disclaimer: this is WAY TOO EARLY to give an accurate prediction of the season so this is subject to change. But, I wanted to go ahead and throw this out there to encourage discussion on expectations for next season.

No expectations.

jt, you will be pleased to know that I have adopted your philosophy for the Cowboys.

[ponyfan84]

Hmmn, you make some good points Callenstang! But like the others, I don't see us winning @ USM. Remember, our D is the biggest question mark this year, so unless by some miracle they come out of nowhere and dominate, which is most likely not going to happen, SMU will lose at least 5 games.

My wins are: UNT, Ak St., Memphis, UCF, Rice, Tulane, and UTEP. Here is why:

UNT = revenge game SMU and their fans will be hungry for, not to mention too early in Dodge's season to have the ship going in the right direction

Ak. State = see game in '06. Not to mention you're right on them looking to that that Tennessee game.

Memphis = unless they are amazing, they are the gutter of C-USA, so even on the road, SMU should take 'em.

UCF = a one hit wonder? they certainly went downhill last year, and its not lookign good.

Tulane = they gave us a great game with all the emotion from their first game in the dome in over a year, but their talent level is already off, plus a new coach who may not have his system running smoothly. If Lester Ricard is gone (too lazy to check), SMU has a shot.

UTEP = even with Rouse, they have no other playmaker or a good QB on the team. Rouse never proved himself at FSU, despite his lack of PT, so he may be a bust.

My losses are: Tech, TCU, USM, Tulsa and UH. Here is why:

Tech = no brainer, despite them losing their top WRs, Leach can still replace players with ease, with the way his system works.

TCU = rivarly game, on the road, and you know they havent forgotten Sept. 10th, 2005 (neither have I!).

USM = a talented team, ON THE ROAD (our kryptonite). I think this will be like the ECU game last year. A game in which we believe we may have a chance, but they have a talented backfield, which will run all over us.

Tulsa = Road game, with Paul Smith and Todd Graham who can coach (see Rice in '06). I just don't see them blowing a 24-7 lead this time around.

UofH = game on ESPN they will be fired up for, they have too much speed that SMU can't handle.

[SMUballboy]

I don't think TCU could beat us that decisively considering they have to find a starting qb and that can also be said for UH

[that's great raplh]

So you are predicting a 45 point road victory at Arkansas St., 24 point road victory at Memphis, 10 point road at Houston and a 3 point road victory at Hattiesburg Mississippi. Rah! Rah! Rah! We will have our hands full to even get a road victory at Arkansas St. or Memphis. This is a school that has lost 9 straight road games to Rice. Every year 75% of this board predicted victories in those games. I always question whether fans that predict easy road victories have watched much College Football over the years. SMU has won 18% of its road games since the DP-about 1 per year. The most common error by fans predicting a team's record is underestimating the difficulty of winning on the road.

gelding