Season Outlook Part II: Predictions

[graypony]

Great job, PonyFanMan! I enjoyed your work on season outlook. Now, since it is, finally, the week of the first game, it is time for season predictions. We will not be able to do this after this week, as far as making predictions about the entire year. Certainly, nothing is binding and you can remind us all in November when what you predict on this thread comes true! So...for the sake of a good conversation:

To all Ponyfans.com readers....
List your predictions of the season.

What will our final record be?
Who will we beat?
Who will we lose to?

[MustangFan]

My predictions for this year: 7-5

• Teams SMU will beat: Kansas, UTEP, Houston, San Jose State, Nevada, Rice, Tulsa

• Teams that will beat SMU: N.C. State, Tulane, Hawaii, Fresno State, TCU

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• I also predict that PonyFans will tell all their SMU friends about this site, encourage them to click on ads and encourage them to log on, create a screen name and post thousands of opinions every day.

Click your ads, and get your friends to do the same -- make my predictions come true!

[jettison]

I think we all did this back in the spring, but now that we've seen some more of the new Mustangs, things have probably changed. I don't have the patience to go searching for that old thread and compare what I wrote way back then, but 8-4 is what I'm thinking for this year.

The only losses are to NC State, Tulane, Houston, and Fresno. And we tie TCU for the WAC championship, after we beat them at Ford. Ain't nobody that can run the ball well against Schumman's troops!! Tomlinson will get less than the 80-something yards he got last year!

[jettison]

Did I say 8-4? I meant 9-4, after we win our bowl game (we'll be playing in Shreveport or Mobile) in a revengeful rematch against Houston.

[Guest]

It all depends on if JD Blagg gets back on the field sooner than later. But seriously, how is this d lineman of the future recovering from the knee injury? I feel like this is a 7-5 team. If they get hot and stay healthy 8-4 is in reach, injuries could mean 6-6 or so. Wins against Kansas, Tulane, Nevada, San Jose, Tulsa, Rice, Fresno.
Losses: Utep (letdown), Hawaii, Houston, NC State. Rivalry game with TCU. I never predict rivalry games. Throw out the book.

[graypony]

He is encouraged that he may be ready to play by this weekend, but next weekend for sure. However, having missed spring ball and all of two-a-days, he will have to learn on the job when he gets the chance. There's a lot of depth at DT.

I think that we could win all 12 games. We could lose to any of the 12 foes, also. So...

8-4

L - Kansas: close, tough loss

W - UTEP: take early WAC lead

L - NCaroSt: but a confidence builder

W - Tulane: start of a fun 7 weeks!

W - Houston: need a big game from secondary

W - SJSU: not close

W - Hawaii: WAC win with bowl implications

W - Nevada: beginning to get media attention

W - Rice: 2-0, can we play a bowl in Houston?

W - Tulsa: 6-0 in WAC!

L - Fresno: close loss to revenge seekers

L - TCU: great game, SMU accepts bowl bid in locker room afterward to play in new bowl game in now, a favored locale: Houston.

TCU, undefeated and underappreciated like Marshall and Tulane before them, back to Mobile and Fresno to Vegas.


[This message has been edited by graypony (edited 08-28-2000).]

[SMUPonyFan]

The Kansas game will determine how well we do. I think we will beat them, close game though.

If we beat Kansas, 8-4, possibly 9-3.
Kansas W
UTEP W
NCState-L
Tulane-L
UH-W
San Jose-W
Hawaii-L
Nevada-W
Rice-W
Tulsa-W
Fresno-L
TCU-W

If we lose to Kansas...7-5 but we could VERY easily slip WAY below that.
Kansas L
UTEP W
NCState-L
Tulane-L
UH-W
San Jose-W
Hawaii-L
Nevada-W
Rice-W
Tulsa-W
Fresno-L
TCU-L

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Go Red, Go Blue, Go Mustangs, S M U

[This message has been edited by MustangMatt (edited 08-28-2000).]

[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 08-28-2000).]

[SMUPonyFan]

After reading my own post, I am bothered. I am trying to cover myself too much, so I can say I told you so.

Here is my final prediction...

9-4, that is including a bowl game.

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Go Red, Go Blue, Go Mustangs, S M U

[jettison]

Smuponyfan, I think you might need some tests run for schitzophrenia.

[PonyDad]

Overall, I think that we are looking at a 8-4, or 7-5 season after a win vs. Kansas. I remember the last scrimmage of the 2-a-day camps last year and watching essentially the scout team defense stuff the first team offense and thinking this could be a long season...The offense looks like it is light years ahead of last year. This should translate to less time on the field for the defense keeping us in just about any game.

Should be a great season!

[Jason]

I think we definately beat:
Utep, Nevada (both high scoring games), Tulsa, San Jose St., and Rice (5 wins).

We get one win between houston and Tulane (6).

We get one win between Hawaii, TCU and Fresno (7).

So, 7-5, but one more win gets us in a bowl. Neither Hawaii nor Fresno are as good this year as last, but both are away games and will be tough. I think we match up well against fresno and beat them. If we upset Kansas or NC State, we finish 8-4 and get a bowl bid.


Jason

[GrapevineMustang]

Best prediction: Markus Pratt and Kevin Aldridge are the best pair of defensive ends we've had in years. They have the speed and strength to sprint outside and force ball-carriers into the middle. With them as bookends, SMU will knock off TCU by forcing Tomlinson into the waiting arms of Croy, Schavrda, Post, Birdwell, etc.

Mark it down: SMU 27, TCU 23

[Ponygrad]

Counting on the offense to be better than average as opposed to worst in the WAC and one of the top defenses at least as good as last season and we could be looking at 9-4 or better.

[D]

7 and 5.
If we start quickly it could be better, but realistically I'm thinking 7 wins this year.

[ALL4SMU]

I am going to have to agree with "D"!

I think 7-5 would be a decent season, and if we get off to a fast start, the sky is the limit. I think this first game is a major key to the season.

9.2.2000