35 1/2 Points

[Dukie]

We will be a much better coached team, but we will still be playing the same guys as last year.

We will see on September if they are still playing like the same guys. A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team. And don't underestimate Matt Davis playing in an offense that fits him well.

Conditioning work can't make guys taller, but it can make them faster and readier to play four full quarters. I'm not saying SMU will win, but based on the videos we've already seen, this will *not* be the same guys as last year.

[Morris Code 11]

I'll be taking SMU w the points. And I bet against us pretty much every game last year (bc I've always thought JJ a joke) so I am not biased, that's just a really high #. Vegas is suckering in thousands of people that look at 1-11 SMU and top 10 program Baylor, with ZERO knowledge of Chad Morris hire and what we have been doing from a recruiting and offensive installation standpoint. I see a 52-21 game at worst.

At the same time, I am going to wait. If this game opened around 35, I can see the line moving heavier for the aforementioned reasons, might get up to 38 area.

[smusic 00]

If it goes any higher I may take some SMU action for the first time ever. I see 35 being realistic.

[Pony Boss]

Sounds about right to me. New offense, shaky QB who will be running for his life, an overmatched secondary, and a revved up Baylor squad with something to prove..........

Baylor usually folds to disciplined football like when they played UCF and Michigan State. Not inferring that we have Michigan State talent or an NFL QB in our team, but playing sound football vs a team known to be undisciplined could make for an interesting game. We will most likely lose, but I wouldn't be surprised if Baylor is still playing their starters and holding on to a 14 point lead when the time runs out in the 4th.

[JasonB]

We will be a much better coached team, but we will still be playing the same guys as last year.

We will see on September if they are still playing like the same guys. A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team. And don't underestimate Matt Davis playing in an offense that fits him well.

Conditioning work can't make guys taller, but it can make them faster and readier to play four full quarters. I'm not saying SMU will win, but based on the videos we've already seen, this will *not* be the same guys as last year.

Sutton will be new. Gaines' involvement will be new. Davis in a better system. O-line can't be worse. Rhone defensively is new. Gentry and Lawler are new. And of course the incoming frosh.

I think we will play much better than we did last year.

That said, we could lose by more. Jones ran clock last year. Morris won't. If we do struggle offensively, the snowball starts to roll.

Either way, it will be nice to watch the kids go out there to compete, which we didn't do a whole lot of last season.

[PonyKai]

...A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team...

Respectfully, I think Gilbert overshadowed a lot of deficiencies on that 2013 team. Gilbert was very good. The rest of the team was, quite frankly, pretty awful. I don't think it helps much that we return a number of players from a bad team, coupled with Jones' anemic efforts in '14.

[Pony Boss]

...A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team...

Respectfully, I think Gilbert overshadowed a lot of deficiencies on that 2013 team. Gilbert was very good. The rest of the team was, quite frankly, pretty awful. I don't think it helps much that we return a number of players from a bad team, coupled with Jones' anemic efforts in '14.

Yes, but that is the issue a lot of teams have, a serviceable QB that masks the deficiencies of the team. Matt Davis seemed to improve through spring so he could at least bring stability to a position that had none last year. We went through 4 QBs last year til we figured MD was our best option. Don't understand how Jones could not see how Burcham was awful and he should have prepared the offense around MD.

[Stallion]

that's a lot of points to give on a road opener for a team starting a new QB although I suspect Seth Russell will be outstanding this year for Baylor. I suspect that Line will come down 4-5 points at least before Kickoff

[peruna81]

I am just grateful that CM has not "penciled in " a loss for this game...For the love of all that is holy, I still can't wrap my mid around that statement uttered by a coach who shall remain nameless.

[PonySnob]

I think we at least score this year against Baylor.

[footballdad]

...A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team...

Respectfully, I think Gilbert overshadowed a lot of deficiencies on that 2013 team. Gilbert was very good. The rest of the team was, quite frankly, pretty awful. I don't think it helps much that we return a number of players from a bad team, coupled with Jones' anemic efforts in '14.

Yes, but that is the issue a lot of teams have, a serviceable QB that masks the deficiencies of the team. Matt Davis seemed to improve through spring so he could at least bring stability to a position that had none last year. We went through 4 QBs last year til we figured MD was our best option. Don't understand how Jones could not see how Burcham was awful and he should have prepared the offense around MD.

How quickly you forget that Burcham had the perfect 'brain type' according to the Juneses

Kolney Cassel was his other 'ESTP'

[ojaipony]

Sounds about right to me. New offense, shaky QB who will be running for his life, an overmatched secondary, and a revved up Baylor squad with something to prove..........

Baylor usually folds to disciplined football like when they played UCF and Michigan State. Not inferring that we have Michigan State talent or an NFL QB in our team, but playing sound football vs a team known to be undisciplined could make for an interesting game. We will most likely lose, but I wouldn't be surprised if Baylor is still playing their starters and holding on to a 14 point lead when the time runs out in the 4th.

Agreed, but we have typically folded and given up by then due to "lack of depth" / "worn out by superior talent" blah blah blah. Tho closest I've seen us in the last 10 years just play blow for blow straight up with a former SWC team was at home in the opener against Texas Tech with GG. Yes, I know we've beaten TCU twice but I'm talking about just blow for blow, your man on my man, no crazy turnovers, etc. But, even then, we lost in the 4th quarter and the excuse was the "just worn out, lack of depth, couldn't maintain the tempo etc etc". We can beat these teams but we have to be SUPERIOR conditioned -- and we need a bit more speed. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that these games will be REALISTICALLY competitive very very soon.

[mrydel]

We are still rebuilding and they are still reloading. Get ready for a long day. Never sure if 35 will hold up but figuring they are inserting a new starting QB I would imagine they will get up 35 and just keep going. Have to be patient. It will come.

[Stallion]

June said he never coached a single QB with the preferred "brain-type"-which makes it even funnier after a 15 year college career "looking" for it.

[smusic 00]

[quote="BIGHORSE"]We will be a much better coached team, but we will still be playing the same guys as last year.

We will see on September if they are still playing like the same guys. A lot of those guys were here in 2013 when we were a potential bowl team. And don't underestimate Matt Davis playing in an offense that fits him well.

Conditioning work can't make guys taller, but it can make them faster and readier to play four full quarters. I'm not saying SMU will win, but based on the videos we've already seen, this will *not* be the same guys as last year.

Sutton will be new. Gaines' involvement will be new. Davis in a better system. O-line can't be worse. Rhone defensively is new. Gentry and Lawler are new. And of course the incoming frosh.

I think we will play much better than we did last year.

That said, we could lose by more. Jones ran clock last year. Morris won't. If we do struggle offensively, the snowball starts to roll.

Either way, it will be nice to watch the kids go out there to compete, which we didn't do a whole lot of last season.[/quote]

How did jones run the clock last year? We tried to throw almost every play. If anything, Morris' run offense will chew up the quarters and not give Baylor the ball every three minutes like we did last year.