'06 CUSA preview...

[Stallion]

Hmm. I seem to remember Baylor shoving it down SMU's tired defenses throat for most of the last 20 minutes of the game on scoring drives of 93, 80 and 77 yards and had two running backs run for over 100 yards. Baylor definitely was the better team and proved it when it counted.

[AusTxPony]

Hmm, and I seem to remember that neither Romo nor Martin started. Wonder if that wouldn't have made a difference for those "tired defenses?

[GoRedGoBlue]

SMU comes back with a QB that never took a snap in a college game and a team that's never smelled the good side of .500 in their career. But you go ahead and chalk up those FREE wins (I hope you are right) and criticize every website that has the audacity to disagree with you.

Lindy's has ArkSt and UNT as the 3rd and 4th teams in the SunBelt.

ArkSt doesn't have a returning QB either, or their two star RBs that helped then sneak into the Conference title last year.

If that ain't a free win then we are 1-11 again.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Sports Illustrated must be smoking the same dope as me...

"SMU could realistically enter Conference USA play with a 3-1 record and use that momentum to register only the school's second winning season since the death penalty." -SI

Where I went to school, realistically translates into probably in football wins.

That doesn't mean WE WILL WIN, but we will PROBABLY WIN.

That's a "W"

[Stallion]

well that's why they play the game but although I concede SMU has a better team I've seen enough college football to fully expect a knock down drag out fight on our hands against NTSU in front of a near sellout crowd in Denton. I also see the Tulane game as a real trap game for SMU in Tulane's Homecoming game after Katrina. Anybody who saw Tulane steamroll SMU last year knows that they have a lot better team than they showed in the other 10 Road Games. SMU will be tested by emotionally high teams in those games. UTEP in El Paso will be another road game where UTEP will be looking for revenge before a big home field crowd. I really believe if SMU gets by Tulane and NTSU that they will find a way to be bowl-eligible but will probably be left out at 6-6.

[AusTxPony]

I agree with Stallion that North Texas and Tulane are the most dangerous games in the sense we may think they are sure wins. Nothing in this day and age is a "sure" win. Especially in a league with such parity as CUSA. A team can always have an off day, i.e. UTEP and TCU last year (in our favor) and ECU, Tulane against us, but I do think we will be somewhat better especially after our first four games and Bennett will have settled on a QB by then hopefully. So the first four will be the season IMHO. We certainly SHOULD be 4-4 in Conference unless we are worse than what I think we can be. So my bet is on 7-5 and a minor bowl. I have said this before, I just hope this time I'm surprised rather than disappointed.

[jtstang]

If SMU goes bowling this year I will be pleasantly surprised, but I have no expectation of it.

[GoRedGoBlue]

well that's why they play the game but although I concede SMU has a better team I've seen enough college football to fully expect a knock down drag out fight on our hands against NTSU in front of a near sellout crowd in Denton. I also see the Tulane game as a real trap game for SMU in Tulane's Homecoming game after Katrina. Anybody who saw Tulane steamroll SMU last year knows that they have a lot better team than they showed in the other 10 Road Games. SMU will be tested by emotionally high teams in those games. UTEP in El Paso will be another road game where UTEP will be looking for revenge before a big home field crowd. I really believe if SMU gets by Tulane and NTSU that they will find a way to be bowl-eligible but will probably be left out at 6-6.

TULANE could be a trap game, but after road losses to HOU, MISS ST, and LSU I think that tulane is done.

I sitll maintain that 6-6 we are out of a bowl, and at 7-5 we have a 50/50 shot at one. 7-5 is probably 4-4 in league play, that is 6th to 8th place for 6 bowl slots.

[me@smu]

I believe that 7-5 puts us in a bowl game for nothing else but the publicity that would come with SMU's return to a bowl game. Some minor bowl isn't going to pass that up if we are 7-5 and possibly not if we are 6-6.

[Charleston Pony]

Given our lack of fan support, I think it may take an 8-4 season to go bowling. Didn't a 7-4 Rice team get snubbed just a few years ago?

I'd like to think we now have enough talent to beat everyone on our home schedule...not that I expect to do so, but I think this team may have to go 5-1 at Ford and then win 3 of 4 road games against UNT, Tulane, ECU and Rice.

Bottom line...although this program is improving, going bowling this year is still a tall order. Now, if TCU was to bomb and stumble to an 8-4 season, would the cowtown bowl consider a frogs vs ponies matchup?

[MrMustang1965]

Given our lack of fan support, I think it may take an 8-4 season to go bowling. Didn't a 7-4 Rice team get snubbed just a few years ago?

I'd like to think we now have enough talent to beat everyone on our home schedule...not that I expect to do so, but I think this team may have to go 5-1 at Ford and then win 3 of 4 road games against UNT, Tulane, ECU and Rice.

Bottom line...although this program is improving, going bowling this year is still a tall order. Now, if TCU was to bomb and stumble to an 8-4 season, would the cowtown bowl consider a frogs vs ponies matchup?

When the w's start happening, the 'fair weather' fans of Dallas will return to Ford.

A Frogs v Mustangs match-up would have possibilities. Plenty of Metroplex and national coverage. Fans from both sides in attendance. And a chance for the Frogs to seek revenge for last year's loss to the Mustangs.

I'd be there...even if I do have to drive to Fort Worth to see it!