'06 CUSA preview...

[JonathanSCS]

SouthernCollegeSports.com just released the 2006 CUSA preview; thought you guys might like to check it out. It's linked below....

http://SouthernCollegeSports.com

[CalallenStang]

I see you have four projected wins for us and four tossups, yet a record of 5-7 projected? You don't think we will win more than one toss-up?

Other than that, I think you hit the nail on the head, especially with this:

Six wins is a real possibility for coach Phil Bennett's squad, but they can't afford to lose winnable games like they did in 2005.

[me@smu]

Not a bad review but a little harsh on the projected losses. Two of the four we beat last year (UTEP pretty soundly) and Tulsa squeaked by us in overtime in their stadium.

I would have at least given us a 4-4 conference record but hey its your site.

[GoRedGoBlue]

If we cannot project UNT and ArkSt as Projected Wins, then this team is done.

Both of those teams are projected DOWN from last year, and each was bad last year - they fought off the other to back into the SunBelt Championship.

I don't know anything about Tulane / MAR, but here they have them as projected wins - this is questionable....


Southern College Sports projection:

Projected Wins: SHSU, at Tulane, MAR, at Rice
Projected Losses: at TT, at UTEP, HOU, Tulsa
Toss-Ups: at UNT, ArkSt, at ECU, UAB
Projected Record: 5-7 / 3-5

[GoRedGoBlue]

NOTE: The TCU "loss" was on the road...


TCU

The Frogs wasted no time welcoming themselves into the Mountain West last season, going unbeaten in conference play and winning the outright league championship by three full games. In fact, the only game TCU lost all season long was a home shocker at the hands of rival SMU. A dozen starters are back from last year's squad, including star RB Robert Merrill. The senior ran for over 900 yards and 10 scores a season ago. QB Jeff Ballard returns this fall as well. Top WR Cory Rodgers must be replaced, but every other wideout who caught a TD in '05 is back on campus.

A season opening battle at ever-improving Baylor will be interesting to watch, as will a home showdown with pass-happy Texas Tech in mid-September. An early-October contest with Utah on the road will set the tone for the conference season and could go a long way in determining who takes home this year's league title.

Projected Wins: at BAY, UCDavis, at Army, WYO, at UNLV, at NM, SDSU, at CSU, AF
Projected Losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: TXTech, BYU, at Utah
Projected Record: 10-2 / 7-1

UTAH

[GoRedGoBlue]

NOTE: The TCU "loss" was on the road...


TCU

The Frogs wasted no time welcoming themselves into the Mountain West last season, going unbeaten in conference play and winning the outright league championship by three full games. In fact, the only game TCU lost all season long was a home shocker at the hands of rival SMU. A dozen starters are back from last year's squad, including star RB Robert Merrill. The senior ran for over 900 yards and 10 scores a season ago. QB Jeff Ballard returns this fall as well. Top WR Cory Rodgers must be replaced, but every other wideout who caught a TD in '05 is back on campus.

A season opening battle at ever-improving Baylor will be interesting to watch, as will a home showdown with pass-happy Texas Tech in mid-September. An early-October contest with Utah on the road will set the tone for the conference season and could go a long way in determining who takes home this year's league title.

Projected Wins: at BAY, UCDavis, at Army, WYO, at UNLV, at NM, SDSU, at CSU, AF
Projected Losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: TXTech, BYU, at Utah
Projected Record: 10-2 / 7-1

UTAH

[JonathanSCS]

I see you have four projected wins for us and four tossups, yet a record of 5-7 projected? You don't think we will win more than one toss-up?

That's correct. And that's based simply on the fact that SMU had trouble winning a few games they should have last season. If that trend changes for the better, then may they take 3 of those 4 games and go bowling.

[GoRedGoBlue]

I see you have four projected wins for us and four tossups, yet a record of 5-7 projected? You don't think we will win more than one toss-up?

That's correct. And that's based simply on the fact that SMU had trouble winning a few games they should have last season. If that trend changes for the better, then may they take 3 of those 4 games and go bowling.

They had trouble winning some of the games last year that they should have...that would be TULANE and which other?

And, they seemed to beat teams that they weren't supposed to (UAB, TCU, UTEP, HOU).

How do you balance that?

Also, WTF do you think that SunBelt also-rans that dared each other to win the conference - ArkSt that loses 2 good RBs and their starting QB, and UNT that hasn't sort of recovered - going to be toss-ups for SMU?

[jtstang]

SMU comes back with a QB that never took a snap in a college game and a team that's never smelled the good side of .500 in their career. But you go ahead and chalk up those FREE wins (I hope you are right) and criticize every website that has the audacity to disagree with you.

[SMU Football Blog]

You are right. Criticism has no place on a message board.

[jtstang]

You are right. Criticism has no place on a message board.

Thank you. Neither does blind sunshine. But I digress.

[jtstang]

I've reconsidered. Both sunshine and criticism belong. Carry on GRGB.

[PK]

But I digress.

As always...yawn.

[jtstang]

But I digress.

As always...yawn.

Hey, I figure do what you do well. But I digress again.

[MrMustang1965]

SMU should have beaten Baylor last year.