The Athletic: College football breakout team candidates

[FriscoPMG]

https://theathletic.com/2787273/2021/08/25/college-football-breakout-team-candidates-can-texas-am-win-the-sec-can-boston-college-or-ucla-crash-the-top-25/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983

SMU
Trend to break: SMU has not won a conference championship or finished ranked in the AP poll since 1984, before receiving the NCAAΓÇÖs death penalty.

Breakout chances: The loss of quarterback Shane Buechele and the end-of-season 14-point defeat to East Carolina made it easy to forget about SMU heading into the offseason. Though Cincinnati is the clear favorite in the AAC, the Mustangs have the firepower to push the Bearcats and UCF if Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai, Derek Green or four-star freshman Preston Stone emerges as a capable replacement for Buechele. Reggie Roberson, one of the nationΓÇÖs most dynamic receivers, is back after missing much of last season with an injury, and the Mustangs have a deep pool of skill position players and all five starters back on the O-line to make the transition to a new quarterback easier.

Though the defense has a ways to go, new coordinator Jim Leavitt has proven capable of swift turnarounds before. Sonny Dykes has recruited as well as any coach in the G5, and that includes attracting a wave of Power 5 transfers. If Cincinnati slips up, SMU will be right in the thick of the race to take advantage.

BetMGM regular-season win total: 6.5

[Dukie]

Strange combo of breakout prediction and 6.5 win total, lol.

[Charleston Pony]

Strange combo of breakout prediction and 6.5 win total, lol.

Recognition of a very tough road schedule this season

[Dukie]

Strange combo of breakout prediction and 6.5 win total, lol.

Recognition of a very tough road schedule this season

Agreed, but look at what the "breakout" prediction is: conference championship and/or ranked at the end of the season. Neither of those things will be remotely possible at 7-5.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I believe the win total is from Vegas not the author of the article.

[Dukie]

I believe the win total is from Vegas not the author of the article.

Gotcha thanks. Weird thing to append right there, in that case.

[EastStang]

Maybe he's hinting that people should bet the Over.

[CJPONY16]

I believe the win total is from Vegas not the author of the article.

Gotcha thanks. Weird thing to append right there, in that case.

It literally says "BetMGM regular-season win total". I don't know how much more clear it can be that the win total is from Vegas.

[Dukie]

I believe the win total is from Vegas not the author of the article.

Gotcha thanks. Weird thing to append right there, in that case.

It literally says "BetMGM regular-season win total". I don't know how much more clear it can be that the win total is from Vegas.

Cool comment! Really moves things forward. Have a great day.

[CJPONY16]

Gotcha thanks. Weird thing to append right there, in that case.

It literally says "BetMGM regular-season win total". I don't know how much more clear it can be that the win total is from Vegas.

Cool comment! Really moves things forward. Have a great day.

I apologize if I took away some of the precious time you spend posting condescending comments regarding COVID vaccinations. Seems you don't like it when the rolls reverse, or do you honestly believe your tone and rhetoric move those conversations forward?

[Dukie]

It literally says "BetMGM regular-season win total". I don't know how much more clear it can be that the win total is from Vegas.

Cool comment! Really moves things forward. Have a great day.

I apologize if I took away some of the precious time you spend posting condescending comments regarding COVID vaccinations. Seems you don't like it when the rolls reverse, or do you honestly believe your tone and rhetoric move those conversations forward?

I will gladly own my error in conflating the line and the author's point. In fact, I did so *before* you jumped in.

Now in exchange, how about you go get all those reality-denying jackwagons vaccinated. Great trade.

And kudos on reversing the, um, rolls. (Sorry if that is condescending.)

[Dukie]

You didn't actually own your error. You said it was weird the author chose to end with that. What's weird about ending a W/L prediction with the betting odds?

People should be allowed to make their own decisions without conceited jack***es like you pretending like you're better than them because they don't share the same opinions. My body my choice, unless you say so? Everyone has things going on in their life that influences them and you don't get to make their decisions for them, as much as you wish you could.

WOW. ZINGER. I typed too fast and spelled something incorrectly. You really got me with that one. I don't know how I will ever recover. I bet you're a ton of fun at parties. (I'm not actually sorry that was condescending)

I love that your tribe thinks liberals are the snowflakes. What an avalanche of triggered rage. Peace to you, seriously. Your comments have no emotional effect on me, other than a moment of amusement.

[CJPONY16]

You didn't actually own your error. You said it was weird the author chose to end with that. What's weird about ending a W/L prediction with the betting odds?

People should be allowed to make their own decisions without conceited jack***es like you pretending like you're better than them because they don't share the same opinions. My body my choice, unless you say so? Everyone has things going on in their life that influences them and you don't get to make their decisions for them, as much as you wish you could.

WOW. ZINGER. I typed too fast and spelled something incorrectly. You really got me with that one. I don't know how I will ever recover. I bet you're a ton of fun at parties. (I'm not actually sorry that was condescending)

I love that your tribe thinks liberals are the snowflakes. What an avalanche of triggered rage. Peace to you, seriously. Your comments have no emotional effect on me, other than a moment of amusement.

Weird. I don't recall calling you a snowflake. No surprise that even your sign off is arrogant. Peace.

[HubbaHubba]

So, to summarize the last few posts, SMU in contention for the AAC championship (I may have glossed over a few things).

[Water Pony]

So, to summarize the last few posts, SMU in contention for the AAC championship (I may have glossed over a few things).