SURPRISE! SMU favored by 3 over Tulane

[Big10Ponyfan]

What does Las Vegas know that we don't?

The total is 49.

[LonghornFan68]

That means it's a wash. The home team generally always gets 3 points. I might lay a buck on that if it's still the same come Friday when I hit the casino.

[The PonyGrad]

No, Tulane is the home team. That means they view us about 6 pts better on a neutral field.That is in line with the Sagarin "Predictor" rating though not the regular rating.

[ThadFilms]

That means it's a wash. The home team generally always gets 3 points. I might lay a buck on that if it's still the same come Friday when I hit the casino.

Nope that means SMU would be favored by six on a neutral field, and perhas by as many as nine at home. I was pretty sure this game was going to be picked as an "even" game considering (a) SMU is playing really well ringing up 200 points in the last two games, but (b) they beat competetinon signifigantly inferior to Tulance, (c) Tulane is playing it's first game in NO in about 20 months, and (d) Tulane has already beaten an SEC team.... albeit a bad SEC team in Mississippi State. But it feels good to be favored in a road game in what will sure be the most emotionally charged environment we will face this year.

[mrydel]

I guess I left too early and missed out on the other 100 points we scored. Must have come in the 5th Quarter, not to be confused with the French Quarter.

[ThadFilms]

As an aside... when the heck was SMU favored in four straight games?

And speaking of scoring in the French Quarter... oh sorry, you got me confused.

[Stallion]

these bookies have it made-everybody on the Tulane board after seeing SMU favored by 2 points said they are loading up on Tulane in a nut bet. I think Home Team Blindness & Sunshine Disease is so fascinating to watch.. I guarantee you 90% of their fans think this is a done deal and 90% of SMU fans think that SMU will breeze by Tulane.

[Big10Ponyfan]

I wonder how the research is coming on TCU's avg. home attendance by a certain member who claimed he already knew what it was.

Us sunshiners would like to know

[ponyte]

Seems like a pretty even match up. Both teams have been blown out by a ranked opponent. Both teams have beaten teams they should beat. Both teams have 'similar' talent by most accounts. According to some knowledgeable recruiting gurus, Tulane has vastly superior talent. Injuries are not a significant issue (both teams are pretty much intact). So far Tulane has done what one might expect. SMU has done what might be expected against TTU and SHSU. SMU has not done what was expected against NTSU and ASU (lose one big and win one big). This is a big game (exclude the returning home factor) for both teams. SMU will have some confidence with a big win and Tulane will have some questions coming off a big loss. This will be a tough game for both teams and unless there are some unusual circumstances, it will be a close game. SMU better step it up and put in a yeoman’s effort this week because it isn’t going to be an easy game.

[KnuckleStang]

these bookies have it made-everybody on the Tulane board after seeing SMU favored by 2 points said they are loading up on Tulane in a nut bet. I think Home Team Blindness & Sunshine Disease is so fascinating to watch.. I guarantee you 90% of their fans think this is a done deal and 90% of SMU fans think that SMU will breeze by Tulane.

I assume by "Home Team Blindness" you mean the Green Wave fans are stupid for loading up on Tulane? That doesn't make any sense coming from you. I thought their (2-9) athletes were far superior to ours.

[Stallion]

TCU Average Attendance
2003 36,155
2004 29,413
2005 31,254
2006(2 games) 35,460

4 year average is in the 33,000 range-much higher than you suggested.

[BRStang]

I think what Stallion's trying to say is that there is no calling this game either way. There are a lot of variables that can affect who wins this game. He is also making the point that there are many fans on both sides who may be a bit delusional in thinking that this is a sure win for their team.

[The PonyGrad]

This thread is just discussing the fact that SMU is favored. I do not see anyone claiming that SMU should mark this in the win column just yet.

Stallion take off the glasses and read the thread before making such comments. Or, maybe put them on.

[Big10Ponyfan]

About time. We've been waiting for that.

As I mentioned, I was making a general statement about their attendance. And I did say upper 20s, so I was right in 2004. But you didn't do enough research. I said going back to when Fran started. That's when they took off.

BTW, you were a little late on Jeff Brooks posting on the recruiting. That was posted last month.

Oh, but I guess my eyes were blinded by the all the sunshine.

[KnuckleStang]

I think what Stallion's trying to say is that there is no calling this game either way. There are a lot of variables that can affect who wins this game. He is also making the point that there are many fans on both sides who may be a bit delusional in thinking that this is a sure win for their team.

That's what you're saying and that's what I'm saying. The game could go either way. Stallion is saying that SMU should lose to Tulane because Tulane's athletes are better.

I personally do not feel that Tulane has any kind of mental edge for this game. Having played myself, I can say that getting whipped 30-something to 10 the year before by a 2-9 team is a great motivator. Coming back to your home stadium after a year, with everyone going "Yay! Welcome home! We Love you! And we fully expect you to win!" with tears streaming down their faces is a little touchy-feely, and is not as motivating as some might think. After playing a quarter, they'll still look around and see that it's the same old three-quarters empty Superdome.