Betting Line Moving as Expected-Tech -6

[Stallion]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... F,p=1,date

[ponyinNC]

with my luck, if i take SMU we lose by 7.

if i take Tech we lose by 3.

if smu wins, i would be ecstatic and wouldn't care about losing the money!!

[ojaipony]

Yeah, I think betting on Tech is the safe bet (and praying I'm very wrong).

[StallionsModelT]

I'm still thinking less than 10 points is crazy. We haven't played worth a flip in an opening game since the Tech away game several years ago and that took a furious comeback to make it a game late. Tech has a lot of question marks but they are the more talented team.

Tech 35
SMU 21

[AusTxPony]

Not arguing, but you are basing that TTech is more talented on recruiting. Am I right?

[StallionsModelT]

Yes and the fact that the guys they have coming back are battle tested against the Big 12.

[Stallion]

that and the fact that just about the only players that Tech wanted on the SMU roster turned us down first too. Shead, Gilbert and Ashcraft. Throw Minor and Gaines in too when Tech had 2 weeks to recruit. You lose recruiting battles to a team all over the field its going to show up on gameday.

[Grant Carter]

that and the fact that just about the only players that Tech wanted on the SMU roster turned us down first too. Shead, Gilbert and Ashcraft. Throw Minor and Gaines in too when Tech had 2 weeks to recruit. You lose recruiting battles to a team all over the field its going to show up on gameday.

I do not understand your first two sentences. Are saying that the fact that Shead, Gilbert and Ashcraft turned us down when they came out of high school and that the Tech staff only had a limited period of time to get Minor and Gaines has some relevance on this game?

I agree with your last sentence, but I do not see how it relates to the prior two.

[ponyinNC]

Limit our turnovers, catch a break here or there - and we win. We had 4 TOs last time we played them, and we still made the game close at the end. We are only 6 point dogs.

I tend to agree with Stallion more on the A&M matchup, where we are severely out-recruited. I don't really feel that way about tech, but that's just me.

[SMU89]

Last time we played tt at tt, wasn't it an 8 point game....several yrs ago?

Are they more "big 12 battle tested" now and / or recruiting at a higher level than before?

Maybe we have improved some since then?

[Rebel10]

Last time we played tt at tt, wasn't it an 8 point game....several yrs ago?

Are they more "big 12 battle tested" now and / or recruiting at a higher level than before?

Maybe we have improved some since then?

Tech lost some good players and now they are at their lowest talent level in a while. They also have a new coach coming to them. With these things factored in we have a chance to take them in the first game. Vegas sees the issues with Tech.

[Treadway21]

No doubt they have more talent, but would Tuberville had left they were in great shape. I know there are other issues that caused him to leave, but he still left to go to a team in a lesser conference.

[StallionsModelT]

Living in Cincinnati >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> living in Lubbock.


And Cincinnati sucks.

[RGV Pony]

Cinci=Louisville =memphis=st Louis. All the same ish

[FoxRaider]

Tuberville left before he got fired. Guy has serious financial issues between the ponzi scheme, settlement for the car wreck where his wife killed an elderly lady, etc. He needs the money badly, had a friend in the AD slot at Cincy, and made the move that was best for everyone. He gets $8 million, we get a million from Cincy and don't have to pay a buyout, we get to move on. Everybody wins.

As for depth, in the defensive front seven, things looked great up until the transfers of Delvon Simmons and Michael Starts. Still have a solid 8-9 guys to play those three DL spots, no real drop off in talent, but the guys are younger, and more "shoot the gap" types than maulers. We definitely wanted Zelt Minor. Coaches thought highly of him. That said, we still have enough depth and talent up front to cause problems.

LB will be interesting, everyone returns save for one backup lost to grades. Guys to watch are Pete Robertson and Andre Ross. They'll be tasked with getting after Gilbert. The staff is very, very excited about those two. Have 4 returning guys at MLB and WLB so no concerns there. Guessing Smith and Eguavoen are starters there.

At CB we've got one talented but undersized senior in Bruce Jones, and then a bunch of young guys, any of whom could start opposite Bruce. Jeremy Reynolds, Ladarius Newbold, and Dee Paul are making noise.

At S we lost both starters, one slot will be filled by the very experienced Tre Porter, the other likely filled by J.J. Gaines. Martin Hill and Dorian Crawford are JUCO signees who could vie for playing time in nickel and dime packages.

Offensively, we feel great about Brewer and Webb at QB.

Inside receiver is loaded with Jakeem Grant and Jace Amaro.

Outside has Eric Ward, Brad Marquez. You'll see a few young guys getting reps at receiver, Ward is the only senior we have at the position. Reginald Davis will play. Dominique Wheeler is an incredible athlete but it hasn't clicked yet for him. Maybe Dylan Cantrell, possibly even Gary Moore could figure in as true freshman. Both are incredible athletes.

Tech feels a lot better about the RBs than outsiders do. Kenny Williams averaged 5.8 ypc last year, Deandre Washington is fully recovered from a 2011 knee injury, Quinton White will be a household name in two years. The guy they're trying to find touches for is Tyler Middleton, a lightly recruited JUCO tailback. Guy is an absolute burner.

OL will be interesting. LeRaven Clark is an All-American candidate at LT. Beyond that, you've got guys that are still young but experienced. Only one senior there, Rashad Fortenberry, and he's not guaranteed to start.

Basically, this would have been a good year for y'all not to have lost Margus Hunt. Loaded at the skill positions, questions on the OL.