Predictions vs Baylor

[Stallion]

the 0-6 prediction made above may be a doomsday prediction-but the fact of the matter is that we most likely will be underdogs in all 6 games. I would say 5 of those schools other than Baylor have got a real shot to go to a bowl game in TCU, A&M, Tulane, Marshall and UAB. Baylor is by far a much bigger game to the future direction of this program.

[CalallenStang]

Tulane in a bowl game? Not this year, my friend.

Marshall? Maybe. But remember, Pruitt isn't there this year.

[Stallion]

Tulane playing against the weak sisters of the WAC West could go all the way. CUSA has 5 bowl bids. They finished strong with a 3 game winning streak and a road victory against TCU until running into the hotest team in the country Louisville and have 17 returning starters back. Tulane ought to be able to play in the upper division of CUSA West for sure. SMU does have adevantage of playing at Ford but considering they also play weakling SE Louisiana, Army and rebuilding Miss St they've got a great chance at a bowl.

[CalallenStang]

We shall see.

Let's agree to disagree, and at the end of the season, take comfort in the fact that SOME SMU fan was right about Tulane

[SMU Football Blog]

Tulane playing against the weak sisters of the WAC West could go all the way. CUSA has 5 bowl bids. They finished strong with a road victory against TCU and have a large number of starters back. Tulane ought to be able to play in the upper division of CUSA West for sure.

Conference USA West is really UTEP and everybody else; I think they have a decent shot at being undefeated in 2005 if they can win at Memphis. I could make a case for every other West team coming in second. Of course, in the case of SMU and Rice, it is a pretty weak case.

[Stallion]

actually I think that UTEP may be harder to figure than many. On the one hand they lose a ton of starters-I believe its the most in the conference. On the other hand they got about 5 top flight BCS transfers including two Parade All-American RBs joining the team plus a big class of JUCO/CC players many from the West. Big turnover in that program for both the good and the bad. I agree that my hunch is that Price with the infusion of talent and Jordan Palmer will be enough to overcome the losses against the weak sisters. But he's got a big coaching job ahead of him(with the help of a supportive administration) to rebuild that team in one year.

[SMU Football Blog]

What's a "supportive administration?" <----- Rhetorical. No response necessary.

[SMU Football Blog]

actually I think that UTEP may be harder to figure than many. On the one hand they lose a ton of starters-I believe its the most in the conference. On the other hand they got about 5 top flight BCS transfers including two Parade All-American RBs joining the team plus a big class of JUCO/CC players many from the West. Big turnover in that program for both the good and the bad. I agree that my hunch is that Price with the infusion of talent and Jordan Palmer will be enough to overcome the losses against the weak sisters. But he's got a big coaching job ahead of him(with the help of a supportive administration) to rebuild that team in one year.

Yeah, but who else? Maybe the undefeated season is a reach, but if the over under is three regular season losses, I am headed to Vegas and taking the under. Tulane, Houston and Tulsa all have their own issues from incorporating a ton of jucos, to changing defenses.

[PonySoprano]

I predict that Dallas County Bear Hunting Season will open at 7:00pm, September 3.

I predict that I will be at my tent on the Boulevard by about 11am. I also predict there will be a "fashion show" of the highest quality parading up and down the Boulevard all day - each group of hotties trying to out-do the others. You gotta love competition. While the on-the-field battle will be hard fought, I predict that the Boulevard rivalry of who is better, Baylor girls or SMU girls, will be just as fierce. The early line has SMU girls as a favorite. They will definitely have the home field advantage.

I also predict that around 10:30pm that night, we will be popping the champange at my tent to celebrate a victory. Well, that might not be a prediction based on facts, but more based on the exuberance of a new season.

[1982Express]

SMU 24
Baylor 13

I think that if the Ponies can have a starting quarterback in place, I think the offense has a chance to do fine. It comes back to feeling comfortable with a QB so the team can get in the flow of the game.

Also, these guys were the youngest team in America the past two years, I think its time we see what they can do now.

Lets go 2-0 heading down to College Station.

[Sam I Am]

The SMU Mustang BLog is right about Coach Price being a miracle worker at UTEP, with the Miners being the team to beat in the C-USA West. Stallion has rightly reminded us about Tulane beating TCU. Even though he is also right about the Frogs presenting a problem for the ponies, I think the "trap game" theory gives us hope in the second game of the season. Ask yourselves who would win a game between Baylor and TCU. The answer could be the key to where SMU can steal a win in September. So far, Bennett has not been able to do that. His successes have come in the late season with the soft part of the schedule. We could be better this year but not have much to show for it yet.

[SouthernMustang]

I think SMU can win this one, and should. But having watched SMU football for the past 5 years, I know it can just as easily not happen -- especially in the final minutes of a game... (Hawaii & NC State in '01; SJSU in '02; Baylor, TCU, Fresno, UTEP in '03).

Baylor's pretty pitiful on the road in season openers, though. 2 years ago they were demolished 52-14 by UNT in Denton... and at home Baylor beat UNT 37-14. Last year Baylor lost to UAB 56-14 on the road. UAB is a very solid team, but I don't really think they are 42 points better. Let's just hope Baylor keeps up this trend. The last time Baylor won a road-opener (vs. UNT) was the same year SMU won a home opener (2000).

Hopefully, SMU's offense can click early, and put up enough points to mess with Baylor's heads. It seems that if another team puts points up on the board pretty quickly, they seem to give up rather easily and the other team has a hayday (using UAB and UNT as examples).

Here's hoping to a 2000 Kansas-like performance. This team needs it more than Baylor, at least they get a welfare check for being in the Big XII at the end of the season.

SMU: 31
Baylor: 17
Attendance: 26,000

[huntnfish]

Don't forget we will be facing our old defensive coordinator at Tulane, Eric Schumann, what a mistake it was to let him go.

[Lotus]

The SMU Mustang BLog is right about Coach Price being a miracle worker at UTEP ....

Of course, many of us (myself included) said the same thing about Coach Kragthorpe at Tulsa, who had a monster debut season the year before, before jumping the tracks last year. Interesting how coaches' ability changes when the talent leaves. (I still think Coach Krag is a very good coach -- he just had nothing to work with last year. And much of what was there left.)

[SMU Football Blog]

Don't forget we will be facing our old defensive coordinator at Tulane, Eric Schumann, what a mistake it was to let him go.

I am not saying our defense today is anything to write home about, but let's be honest, the SMU defense from 1997-2001 was not that great. On average, over the five years, SMU gave up 24 points a game, never averaging less than 20 points allowed per game in a season. In 2000, SMU allowed almost 30 points per game.

By no means am I suggesting Schumman is a bad defensive coordinator, but let's not consider Schumman the benchmark by which we judge all future SMU defenses.