SMU at Rice (-4.5) Week 1

[smu diamond m]

Yeah, early lines are 9 parts BS 1 part hype.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Easy money. SMU should win by at least 10.

[smu diamond m]

Easy money. SMU should win by at least 10.

Didn't say I wouldn't take the line

[OC Mustang]

Clement is a quality QB-you've got to give him that-do you ever watch any Rice games?

Yes, I do, and I think he's average. Have you read the CUSA board? Most people on there seem to think he's the second coming of Christ. He's decent, but he's not Vince Young, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, etc.

In high school, he looked like just another high school QB, and he looks like just another CUSA QB now.

By the way, my vote for top QB in CUSA this year is Vittatoe from UTEP.

It's hard to throw when one is laying flat on one's back looking up at the guy named Serge standing over you smiling at the fact he bruised your ribs even through your QB flak jacket.

[Mustangsabu]

I can't help but think we have a shot at beating the owls. It is the first game under JJ, and while things might not click on offense, I think our D is going to have a good game.

D is a lot about energy and commitment. The kids are going to be so excited that there will be some real passion in our D from the get-go. This was absent last year, particularly in games like the Arkie State one, when Bennett had the team come out flat. Those days are gone.

I think that if JW is starting (and I know that is not certain) I think we will have enough offense to put some points on the board, and then it is a case of can we harass Clement (who, due to the pre-season hype, will have a lot of pressure on him)? And, furthermore, will McCann and Dennis be a match for Dillard? I really think that our D is going to be more successful in CUSA this year, because of a better scheme, better coaching, and utilizing what we do have, which is speed. I know that we need to upgrade the talent on D, and on the O-line too, but these kids have a hunger to win that I think JJ will be able to tap into to get them to punch above their weight.

But then again, I am an optimist.

[jkflamebo]

Yeah, early lines are 9 parts BS 1 part hype.

agree

[bagice]

I really hope we win this game, but people are crazy to think it will be a cake walk, many factors are against us.

I am not sure what people are basing their "Our defense will be vastly improved this year" arguments on, except maybe that we had the worst defense in the history of college football last year, and the only way is up.

We haven't beaten Rice in Houston since the 80's and some of those teams were pretty cruddy.

Rice has a potent offense with some nice skill players with experience and they can put points on the board as they proved last year.

This will be the first game of the new offense and we may sputter a bit out of the gate.

Bottom line, I know enthusiam is high, and I really hope we win, but we need realistic expecations here. This is really a game we should probably lose and it will take a real nice effort and some breaks to win. Everyone needs to understand this so we don't go off the deep end if we end up losing the opener, it should be expected.

[The PonyGrad]

Clement is a quality QB-you've got to give him that-do you ever watch any Rice games?

So then how many stars did Rivals give him?

[jtstang]

D is a lot about energy and commitment.

I noticed you left out talent. Last year's D, from which we lost some of the better players, gave up 193 yards on the first play against NTSU last year.

I am concerned about our defense.

[CalallenStang]

maybe that we had the worst defense in the history of college football last year, and the only way is up.

Correction: We would have had the worst defense in the history of college football last year, but UNT's defense was even worse.

[RGV Pony]

D is a lot about energy and commitment.

I noticed you left out talent. Last year's D, from which we lost some of the better players, gave up 193 yards on the first play against NTSU last year.

I am concerned about our defense.

and the guy who would go on to catch 67 passes in that game could've played for us...but apparently had enough of watching his brother NOT play for us..

[Mustangsabu]

D is a lot about energy and commitment.

I noticed you left out talent. Last year's D, from which we lost some of the better players, gave up 193 yards on the first play against NTSU last year.

I am concerned about our defense.

I did not say that it was exclusively about energy and commitment. I am well aware of the concerns regarding the talent of our D. I was simply stating that we had a habit of not playing with energy or commitment last year. I would also point out that when we did play with the aforementioned qualities we came VERY close to beating Tulsa who had a far better offense than Rice.

Our D will not be vastly improved, but I think a little improvement would shave many points off the visitors' scores.

Also, I know that the game against NTSU was not full of quality defending, but I am pretty sure we did not give up 193 on any single play

[chillinfool]

The defense should be improved simply because this year when they blitz, I doubt JJ will have the players screaming "All out" or whatever they did last year to let the opponent know they were blitzing!

[MustangStealth]

That's suprising...I didn't think Rice was very highly thought of this year?

Rice is never very highly thought of, but that doesn't keep us from flopping every time we go to Houston.