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I would hope SMU is better than Rice and would do better against a non stellar Aggies defense.

Manziel didn't play in the first half against Rice. He sat for much of the 4th as well.

They weren't just coming off of a loss to Alabama - a game they've waited all season for.

I think you're comparing apples to oranges.

If we had gotten them for that first game, perhaps. After a tough loss, I think their defense wants to prove somethiing.

My $.02

Half of A&M's defense was suspended for the Rice game

SMU is not better than Rice and Rice was much better equipped to attack the Aggies weakness (run defense) due to their run heavy offense and veteran o-line (all 5 starters returned).

ponyinNC wrote:Manziel didn't play in the first half against Rice. He sat for much of the 4th as well.

They weren't just coming off of a loss to Alabama - a game they've waited all season for.

I think you're comparing apples to oranges.

If we had gotten them for that first game, perhaps. After a tough loss, I think their defense wants to prove somethiing.

My $.02

I see what you are saying but Manziel would have to do more with offense. Also, with aTm losing their big game that might put them on a somber mood against SMU which would bode well for SMU.

If Manziel is not on the field then their offense is not on the field as much (fewer first downs) and so it gives our offense more opportunities to accumulate yardage and match the 509 yards of total offense. What makes you think Rice is better than SMU? Unless we were to play them, nothing in our recent history tells me either team has the upper hand. That series is determined by whoever plays at home and this year would have been at SMU, so I would have expected us to beat them.

mustangxc wrote:If Manziel is not on the field then their offense is not on the field as much (fewer first downs) and so it gives our offense more opportunities to accumulate yardage and match the 509 yards of total offense. What makes you think Rice is better than SMU? Unless we were to play them, nothing in our recent history tells me either team has the upper hand. That series is determined by whoever plays at home and this year would have been at SMU, so I would have expected us to beat them.

Rice having 17 returning starters makes me think they're better than us (and they are) and that was a team that punked us last year when we had guys like Davis, Reed, Hunt, Line, etc. Not sure who we have that could stop them this year even if the game were at Ford.

Rebel10 wrote:

ponyinNC wrote:Manziel didn't play in the first half against Rice. He sat for much of the 4th as well.

They weren't just coming off of a loss to Alabama - a game they've waited all season for.

I think you're comparing apples to oranges.

If we had gotten them for that first game, perhaps. After a tough loss, I think their defense wants to prove somethiing.

My $.02

I see what you are saying but Manziel would have to do more with offense. Also, with aTm losing there big game that might put them on a somber mood against SMU which would bode well for SMU.

I could see that too.

CalallenStang wrote:Half of A&M's defense was suspended for the Rice game

With JFF and the defense out the first half the owls gained more than 300 yards the first half.

Once the team was back in the second half, they gained significantly under 200 the second half.