OFFICIAL SMU-ARKANSAS STATE PREDICTIONS

[ALEX LIFESON]

Ponies 31 ASU 21

[BIGHORSE]

Mustangs 35


Red Wolves 21

[White Helmet]

Ark St 35
Ponies 17

[leopold]

ASU's hole at QB catches up with them and we are able to simply outscore them.

SMU 38
ASU 17

[PonySnob]

SMU 35
Arkansas St 17

[ponyboy]

34-30 SMU

[mustangxc]

SMU 34 Arkansas State 31

[AusTxPony]

Since the "D" of both teams seem to be the most touted, I see a more low scoring first game. Running game has rough start, but our offense gets cracking late and SMU wins, 28-16.

[HubbaHubba]

Mighty Mustangs 35
the color of the old mascot wolves 10

[JasonB]

Two things to watch:

1) Does 83 get a lot of PT, and are the TEs running routes? If he is out there and the TEs are involved in running routes, that is a great sign for the OL for this game and the season in general. If not, then the offensive production is going to be held back by the OL all year. Last year, Ark St was 6th in the country with 8.3 TFL per game. That is a number to keep your eye on.

2) Can our defense generate negative plays? Last year we got a ton of TFL out of the LBs. SMU was 30th in the country at 6.9 per game. Kyron alone was responsible for 15 of those. The scheme is different this year, where the DTs are being asked to make plays instead of just occupy lanes and linemen. Can they combine with the LBs to generate negative plays? Are LBs still making plays, and do we get 7 or 8 TFL during the course of the game? Our run defense was pretty bad last year - 5 yards per carry, ranked in the 100s. If the DTs are trying to push up the field, are we able to push the line back and play more effective against the run, or do we open up more holes for some really long gains?

[JasonB]

Forgot my prediction...

I think actually having an OL coach matters. Because of this, I think we will see the OL improve and TEs out in patterns and 83 has an impact.

For number 2, as much as I love Rambo, Dierson was a really good coach. Losing him and replacing with someone who hasn't coached DT before is going to have a negative impact. We hit the TFL number, but get gashed on some long runs because of over aggressiveness and inexperience at safety.

SMU 31, ASU27

[BUS]

ANY kind of win with no injuries.
It would be nice to see this team well prepared but first games can be hard to watch.

Looking to see line play - Of Course. We have depth on D-line and hopefully the O has practised enough to work well together.

Hope the transfers and team gel well.
Go Mustangs.

[skyscraper]

SMU 35
State 27

[dalpony]

35-21

[JasonB]

Dykes in his radio show on Monday showed confidence in the o-line and the impact that our TEs will have on the offense. That is a huge deal. I encourage everyone to watch that show and compare his confidence this season to where it was last year.