Updated Season Predictions

[dirtysouthpony]

6-6. We now have a running game which will take pressure off of the defense.

[Stallion]

Baylor's O-Line is easily the best we will face-Top 5 in Country

[Pony Boss]

Baylor's O-Line is easily the best we will face-Top 5 in Country

Not according to NTSU who think they will run on us.

[ojaipony]

I think by far the most specific encouraging thing was our running game. Scheme, better coaching, and now speedsters all were great to see. That might be the best DL in the country, granted Oakman wasn't playing. But still, that was fun to watch just straight ahead runs, not gimmicky delayed draws being the only run plays in the play book. "Grown man" football right there.

[PonySnob]

"Punch them in the mouth"!

[JasonB]

Baylor's O-Line is easily the best we will face-Top 5 in Country

Not according to NTSU who think they will run on us.

We are going to struggle against the run all season, but it is not the d-line, it is the LBs and Safeties that are the big problem. We weren't knocked off the ball yesterday if you watch the replay. Our backers and star had chances to make plays and the only one who did a couple of times was number 11.

[Charleston Pony]

I predicted anywhere from 2-10 to 6-6 and felt we'd probably win 4 games. Nothing I've seen so far changes my opinion. Let's see how we look against UNT but I'm counting on a win in this game for us to reach that 4 win level

[jpe747]

Baylor's O-Line is easily the best we will face-Top 5 in Country

Not according to NTSU who think they will run on us.

We are going to struggle against the run all season, but it is not the d-line, it is the LBs and Safeties that are the big problem. We weren't knocked off the ball yesterday if you watch the replay. Our backers and star had chances to make plays and the only one who did a couple of times was number 11.

I did think our DL played pretty good against the running game. So, I agree. But, on passes, I don't recall seeing much pressure on the QB. Again, that was a very good OL we were playing against. And, the LB's were part of the pass rush problem. But, I hope SMU can put more pressure on passers in the coming weeks. We will definitely improve. Morris has made a believer out of me.

[Rebel10]

DL could stand to use a couple of 300 lb DT's and some more athletic DE's. Bus noted how small and slow the DL looked and he was correct. Mitchell (number 11) played pretty good at the hybrid OSU type star position. The quicker we move from an OSU 4-2-5 to an TCU 4-2-5 the better imo. DL kind of got gashed a few times on the run if you watch the replay and did not get very much pressure on the QB. I think we have some help at DE coming in the 2016 recruiting class but would still like to see us get one 300 lb DT. Good effort though against a very good Baylor OL. We will get a better gauge of the lines and overall defense against a mid level Sunbelt like talented team in North Texas.

[CoxMustangFan]

So that's how TCU had been winning. They're cheating bastards!!

[Pony Boss]

TCU runs a 4-2-5, reb

[JoeKidd]

My prediction stands at 6-6 and hopefully that gets us into a bowl game. Beating NTSU is important for recruiting, season momentum, fan participation and a whole lot of other reasons. We need this one and I hope there is even a better turnout from SMU fans on Saturday. #Lockarms.

[Rebel10]

TCU runs a 4-2-5, reb

That was a typo. Thanks.

[Dukie]

I'm glad that this thread recovered from the personal stuff on the first page.

To me, it's not as interesting to simply throw out a number. Much more interesting, especially for those with higher win numbers predicted, to also name where you think the wins will come. I want to pick a high number, but I cannot get beyond these five:

Home vs NTSU
Home vs JMU
At South Florida
Home vs Tulsa
Home vs Tulane

My caveat is that late-season games can swing based on motivation, so hopefully if SMU is 5-6 and playing for bowl eligibility and Memphis isn't fighting for a division championship, that last game at Memphis could be a surprise. For example, even though UConn was woeful last year, SMU was worse, but the motivation of avoiding an 0-fer season was pretty powerful, and UConn had zip to play for.

[Charleston Pony]

Memphis is one of the better teams in our league and we play them at their place. Key to finding 6 wins will be to win our home games...obviously UNT and JMU are must wins but I'm going to call the ECU game the key to a successful season. That assumes we beat UNT, JMU, Tulsa & Tulane at Ford and if we can beat ECU, we only need to win one road game (I don't see us beating Temple). Lose this weekend to UNT (let's not kid ourselves about that not being a possibility), and the character of our guys will be tested