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Game 1: Texas Tech vs. SMU

Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Don't expect the 2010 installment of the Tech-SMU series to resemble any game from the last decade.

The Red Raiders have pretty much had their way with the Mustangs since the demise of the Southwest Conference, but things seem to be turning for SMU under head coach June Jones.

SMU won the 2009 Hawaii Bowl, its first bowl since receiving the death penalty in the 1980s. The Red Raiders have a new coach in Tommy Tuberville, a new offensive coordinator (Neal Brown) and will be playing a new defensive scheme - a 3-4.

Former Southlake Carroll quarterback Kyle Padron, a sophomore, led SMU to wins in five of its final six games in 2009.

Predicted score: Texas Tech 42, SMU 24. Tech quarterback Stephen Sheffield's mobility will further complicate things for an overmatched SMU defense. The game will be played on an unusual day - Sunday - but look for the ususal result ... a Tech victory.

From Tech's board. Their posters are not as slanted as I would have thought.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=188&f=1650&t=6123635

To a poster, they take a defeat of SMU for granted. Not saying it isn't unreasonable, but obviously a feeling of vast superiority.

TTU will be running a new defense. SMU will be in its third year of an explosive offense. TTU has been known for its explosive offense and our defense has yet to prove itself against a higher end opponent.

It might be closer than expected because of the SMU offense. We will have to see.

I do think our players feel confident in their progress and capabilities. They have beat teams (not of TTU caliber) that easily outmanned them. They feel they can continue to do that. I do seem to remember a reasonable close game at Ford one year against TTU and SMU. Leach tried to run up the score and Bennett to exception. So it is possible to have close games.

A SMU would be a huge upset to be sure. But unlike previous openers against TTU, SMU has its best chance of an upset in decades.

Didn't like this...

Anybody get a chance to hear what Newy Scruggs had to say about June Jones this morning? He teased that Jones isn't happy at SMU this morning, but I didn't get a chance to listen to the segment.

all I know is that we haven't even "scared" Tech since our return from the death penalty; it's about time for SMU to pull off a shocker...against either Tech or TCU...this year...please???