SMU ranked #10 in AAC by CFN

[One Trick Pony]

http://herosports.com/college-football/100-smu-football-preview-2017-ahah

That's the best ranking yet.
Is that your blog?

[Pony Boss]

http://herosports.com/college-football/100-smu-football-preview-2017-ahah

That's the best ranking yet.
Is that your blog?

No, my blog would have SMU in the top 25.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Even if we go 7-5 or (gasp) 8-4 with this schedule is there really any way we should be much higher than 70 or 80 in D-I???

Hoping for the best of course I still think there is no way we don't go to a bowl this season.

[SoCal_Pony]

I still think there is no way we don't go to a bowl this season.

@TCU - Loss
Ark St. - Loss
@Houston - Loss
@Cincinnati - Loss
Tulsa - Loss
UCF - Loss
@Navy - Loss
@Memphis - Loss

4-8

Not saying this is happening, I think they'll go 7-5, but could easily see 5-7.

[leopold]

Hell, it's just as easy for us to go 0-12 as it is 12-0. Even SFA is dangerous this year, and every team on our schedule should see an offense that doesn't always play up to it's potential, a defense that was downright bad last year, and special teams that have the potential to singlehandedly lose games for us.

But we match up well against almost everyone. One example: We have the best WR's in the conference. Athlon, for example, has USF and Temple as having the #1 and #2 DB's in the conference, and we don't play them. Tulane has the third best and they are weak at almost every other position. Navy just lost their best DB, a first team pre-season AAC pick, to 'not having the desire to be a Naval officer' - he's off to Notre Dame. Only TCU should have the secondary to keep up.

Point is, our WR's should run wild. Barring injury or simply wetting the bed we should score in bunches. And the defense actually has some building blocks to work with along the lines of Lawler and others. Anybody who thinks I or anybody else is 'drinking cool-aid' isn't paying attention to what's actually being put on the field.

[One Trick Pony]

Who's the QB is my question about scoring in bunches.

[mrydel]

Peavy

[leopold]

Pick one - apparently we've got three. When was the last time we could say that??

One question: Hero points out that Gillins played WR at Wisconsin. I have no idea how he stacks up on the depth chart, but for the sake of discussion is it possible to see him on the field as a receiver if the whole QB thing doesn't work out? I'm sure he's been promised a shot at the starting role but we've apparently got an embarrassment of riches at that position and there may be the option to play now that we aren't *quite* as deep there now. How many years of eligibility does he have left? Two?

[leopold]

About the QB: Here's the rankings of the AAC quarterbacks by the Orlando-Sentinel, i.e. a publication that had SMU in the 100's. They've got Hicks as the third best:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c ... story.html

More good news. We also miss arguably the best QB in the league in Flowers and possibly dodge a bullet in that while ECU has a mid-range QB now they have a well-regarded transfer from Duke coming in.

[Hoop Fan]

It's such a fine line between winning and losing. None of these publications have any idea in June who is the #70 vs the #90 team. It's a joke, I buy the magazines too but it's the Easter bunny for grown men. One actual positive I know of is an improvement in the training table. Last summer our guys would workout from 5:30 to 8 am, and then scramble all the way over to umphrey lee to choke down some cafateria dog food before class. This year they are serving a real breakfast every morning at loyd center immediately after workouts which is very important. Food that humans actually want to eat. I think we will be 2% bigger and stronger in September than last year based on this fun fact alone. That's 5-6 pounds for linemen and 3-4 pounds for big skill guys. In a game of inches, 2% counts a lot. Carry on.

[oilpony]

What do you do with Ford?

IPF

[ponyboy]

And craft beer festivals.

[peruna81]

I am perfectly satisfied with this "ranking"...let folks underestimate us this year...it will garner a win or two in and of itself.

Undercommit. Overperform. Leave them stunned.

[PonyTime]

What do you do with Ford?

Ask him for more $$$ for the IPF?

[ojaipony]

For me, Tulsa and Arky St are both bellwethers. Could lose to either/both, really need to beat both. Those 2 games will be the difference between bowl game or not. Throw in UCF also.