Next Season's predictions

[ojaipony]

Year five, we sure as shoot better be beating teams like UTEP. I know we haven't won there in 15 years, but that's why we're investing the resources we're investing in this program. Year five, we better not be losing to a perennially mediocre UTEP squad. Yeah, they're strong at home. Yeah, we have a bad history at a lot of stadiums that aren't our own. But still, enough. Get it done. We want to take the next step, we start wiping the floor with teams like UTEP. No more excuses.

Thank you!

Anything less than 9 wins this year is unacceptable.

This team has the potential to be very very special. GG plays with a chip on his shoulder to prove everybody wrong. JP is the missing piece JJ has been missing here on the offense - brings an aggressive freshness players respond to. Stephon Sanders breaks out. Hunt "breaks out". Seniors (DJ, Zach, JG, Treed, etc) all playing to be realistically drafted -- some possibly very high. The OL plays with a chip on its shoulders (see most recent interview with BG).

Now, up to US to GET BUTTS in the seats! And get behind this team!!!

Pony UP!

[No Quarter]

The big break in the 2012 schedule was TCU's disasterous offseason which has seen 8 players who had legitimate shots at starting leave the team unrelated to graduation. You get them at home-better take advantage. CUSA has no team that appears to be nationally competitive-most every top QB graduated. CUSA is a jump ball but IF Gilbert comes in and plays like a polished, experienced QB I could see SMU having a chance to take this to the house.

IMO the most optimistic statement by Stallion in a long time. And ponyte is enthused. Its almost like the stars are lining up. I certainly can't / don't follow the program as closely as many on this board, but my hope is that we win CUSA in the this last season.

[NTXCoog]

So, looking at the schedule - it is definitely not a breeze. I think it is funny how universities like UH pack their schedule with 'easy-win' teams like TxState, consistantly... every year.

Consistently, every year, UH schedules easy wins? Prior to 2011:
2010 UCLA, Mississippi State, and Texas Tech.\
2009 OK State, Texas Tech, and Mississippi State
2008 Oklahoma State, Air Force
2007 Oregon, Alabama
2006 Oklahoma State, Miami
2005 Oregon, Mississippi State
2004 Oklahoma, Miami

Do I need to go on?

We did have one change in philosophy, we're really not schedule 2 for 1s and 1 away games any longer. Almost all of the games listed above were 2 for 1s. An exception was Texas Tech. After we beat them, they decided they'd only play us as a 2 for 1 also.

UH's attendance is finally had a level where we make as much money on home games as we do on "payday" games/series so there's much less incentive to play a one off away game or 2 for 1.

You'll also find that as you continue to beat the "bigger name" teams, the less those teams want to play you. You stop being a "rent-a-win" game compared to other options available to those teams

With this being said... I am hoping for a 10-2 season, but realistically seeing a 7-5 season. Houston can upset us, as can Tulsa and Southern Miss... aTm desroyed us last time...

You say aTm destroyed you (32 point win). Is 32 points the cut off for being "destroyed" because Tulsa won last year by 31 and UH won by 30?

[PSCA]

Last year was exactly that, last year. As we have all heard many times "The Score is not always indicative of the game itself", I think it fair to say the UH/SMU game was closer than the score … yes we lost to a better team with an all world QB. The last UH score was a little cheap IMO. We have our 2/3’s in as does UH … and all were settled in for the run out the clock two-step … than what you know, UH pops one deep for the end-zone .. and it caught all sleeping at the wheel. I agree UH has played a strong OCS in recent years, I’m sure the game this year will competitive a well. But, don’t underestimate what SMU will have this year, or what you have lost from last year. SMU; 8-4 conservative with a real shot at 9-3 (10-2 hmmm) and a conference title to boot.

[MustangSTATS]

The last UH score was a little cheap IMO....

UH cheap, never
Well at least there is no excuse about playing them after Navy this year. The UH game is right in between Tulane and Memphis. When is the last time we beat UH?

[03Mustang]

You say aTm destroyed you (32 point win). Is 32 points the cut off for being "destroyed" because Tulsa won last year by 31 and UH won by 30?

No one here is going to dispute that we were utterly destroyed in those games as well. I seriously think our QB was drunk for the Tulsa game...there is pretty much no other explanation for his performance there. He was at least tipsy for the UH game as well...

[JonesDoe]

The big break in the 2012 schedule was TCU's disasterous offseason which has seen 8 players who had legitimate shots at starting leave the team unrelated to graduation. You get them at home-better take advantage. CUSA has no team that appears to be nationally competitive-most every top QB graduated. CUSA is a jump ball but IF Gilbert comes in and plays like a polished, experienced QB I could see SMU having a chance to take this to the house.

I am in agreement with you Stud.. Anything could happen at Baylor but if GG, or whoever, is at QB has a good game we win and have a good season..

I have had several recurring dreams lately that are indicating Baylor is going to tighten up to the point of failure when we start getting close to game day. The Mustangs however will be gaining momentum even with the perceived notion that we should not expect to win.

I see 432 yards passing and four TD with Zach pushing in two himself. I see 44-21 smack down and a dream season.. Then the house will fill and the wins will pile up. Most everyone will be happy then..

[ponytailgater]

With a Baylor D that looks much better than it did in years past and it being the first starting game for GG or SK at qb... I predict the only way to win this game is Zach Line blowing up for 185 yards and 3 TDs.

On the road and with some real excitement at Baylor about football, I have a feeling the Baylor game will be our hardest non-conf game this year.

[NomAnor]

10 wins for JJ atlast

[NTXCoog]

Last year was exactly that, last year. As we have all heard many times "The Score is not always indicative of the game itself", I think it fair to say the UH/SMU game was closer than the score … yes we lost to a better team with an all world QB. The last UH score was a little cheap IMO. We have our 2/3’s in as does UH … and all were settled in for the run out the clock two-step … than what you know, UH pops one deep for the end-zone .. and it caught all sleeping at the wheel. I agree UH has played a strong OCS in recent years, I’m sure the game this year will competitive a well. But, don’t underestimate what SMU will have this year, or what you have lost from last year. SMU; 8-4 conservative with a real shot at 9-3 (10-2 hmmm) and a conference title to boot.

How was it closer than the score indicated? 513 yards to 263 yards. SMU's only TD came at the 8 minute mark in the 4th quarter after down 23-0. That's domination.

And just a minor correction on the last TD. It was 3rd and 4 at the SMU 43 with 1:30 left, so UH taking a knee twice isn't going to take the clock to zero so we are going to try to get the 1st down at a minimum. An SMU end tries to jump the snap count, not exactly a play by a defense sleeping and waiting for it to run it out. Sounds like someone still trying to hit the QB or stop the 3rd down conversion. The backup QB throws a 33 yard pass into double coverage at the SMU 10 to a WR who caught a total of 10 passes last season and this was his only TD of the season. Neither guy in coverage really tries to make the tackle although the LB not in coverage makes a valiant, but late, attempt. If they make the easy tackle, UH takes a knee (see UNT at their 3, Georgia State at their 1). Do you want to complain about us rushing for 42 yards on our TD that put us up 30-7?

[GiddyUp]

who cares... UH, Tulsa, and A&M kicked our @ss. I hope to kick UH's butt this year for once.

[PonySnob]

When is the last time we beat UH?

Wasn't it 2005 down in Houston .....seem to remember we kicked a field goal at the end of the game. It was during the PB error.