OFFICIAL: SMU vs. TTU Prediction Thread

[ojaipony]

Reading some weird stuff about our OL on the pay sites. Very concerned about our OL, which I thought would be better this year . . . seems to be the weakest link by many . . . I hope GG gets his head on straight, I think it's all mental with him . . .

[mustang addict]

The Mustangs 43
Tech 41 Here We Go Mustangs!

[Pony^]

Source: Texas Tech to start walk-on at QB

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?sa=NCF&eid=9614528

[Pony^]

For what it's worth, the Bleacher Report predicts:

Prediction: Mustangs 45, Red Raiders 35

The combination of opening on the road and inexperience at quarterback and head coach will be too much for the Red Raiders to overcome in the opener. To further highlight their ineptitude on defense, the team was 82nd in the nation against the run in 2012.

Most of the starters from that unit are back, with the exception of an even younger secondary.

Look for the Mustangs to pull the mild upset.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1754996-texas-tech-vs-smu-tv-info-spread-injury-updates-game-time-and-more

[Pony^]

Prediction: SMU rattles freshman Texas Tech QB Baker Mayfield, squeezes out a win. . . .

Prediction: If Michael Brewer were playing, it would be a different story. But he's not, and SMU will take advantage by squeezing out a win in a high scoring affair. SMU 38, Texas Tech 34.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/headlines/20130830-prediction-smu-rattles-freshman-texas-tech-qb-baker-mayfield-squeezes-out-a-win.ece

[GiddyUp]

Reading some weird stuff about our OL on the pay sites. Very concerned about our OL, which I thought would be better this year . . . seems to be the weakest link by many . . . I hope GG gets his head on straight, I think it's all mental with him . . .

Huge concern

[sbsmith]

Reading some weird stuff about our OL on the pay sites. Very concerned about our OL, which I thought would be better this year . . . seems to be the weakest link by many . . . I hope GG gets his head on straight, I think it's all mental with him . . .

Read the same stuff about the OL, that why I'm thinking Tech 38 SMU 20.


Kingsbury comes out and establishes the run early on and it sets up play action passing which confuses our defense and allows the freshman some open throws to build confidence. We'll have no answer for Amaro in the 2nd half. Gilbert spends most of the game running for his life which will lead several turnovers and 3 & outs.

[ponyte]

Last year the O line was a huge concern going into the season. All five we first time starters. that isn't the case this year. And a few of this year's starters got playing time last year. Add in the UT Big 12 experience and the O line isn't as big a concern to me as last year.

Gilbert was creamed time and time again last year early on. The O line couldn't get to the backers on the run and all kinds of ineptitude was displayed. But they improved remarkably through the year.

I don't anticipate that this year. Especially the UT taught to run block like a fend left tackle.

The O line hs to prove itself but I think we are far ahead with the O line this year than we were last year in the opener. And Gilbert doesn’t get smeared like he did last year.

[sbsmith]

Last year the O line was a huge concern going into the season. All five we first time starters. that isn't the case this year. And a few of this year's starters got playing time last year. Add in the UT Big 12 experience and the O line isn't as big a concern to me as last year.

Gilbert was creamed time and time again last year early on. The O line couldn't get to the backers on the run and all kinds of ineptitude was displayed. But they improved remarkably through the year.

I don't anticipate that this year. Especially the UT taught to run block like a fend left tackle.

The O line hs to prove itself but I think we are far ahead with the O line this year than we were last year in the opener. And Gilbert doesn’t get smeared like he did last year.

Read some pretty unsettling stuff about how Ashcraft is doing in pass blocking. Not bullish on him.

[Nacho]

what's the difference in smeared and creamed? is creamed better than smeared?

[ponyte]

Creamed is getting hit hard from up the middle or the right. Smeared is never see it coming from the left. Both hurt and Gilbert got plenty of both early in the season last year.

Ashcraft may be struggling with pass blocking but he fro sure knows and will get to the Backers. That is one major difference. With Traylon and GG able to run and a run blocking trained left tackle, it just might take some of the pressure off being a super pass blocker.
Last year our tackles didn’t even get off the line, much less into the backers early in the season. That is why Line was getting stuffed so often early in the season.

The line may suck (see the Panic Thread) but I don’t think they will As a unit, they will block better for passing and running than last year’s unit at the start of the season. And if GG can pass and run, the dynamics of the O change dramatically and puts all kinds of pressure on the TTU D.

[ojaipony]

Sunshiner Alert . . .

The only glimmer of hope I see in this game is that it seems JJ is taking this game seriously (at home on primetime ESPN and his ego can't take an [deleted] kicking . . . saw some photos of him with headphones on mimicing gametime environment in the stadium from practice shots on Wednesday looking very focused and concentrated). When JJ takes games seriously we HAVE historically done well (Hawaii bowls for example and the games to get us INTO the bowls . . . Tulsa, UTEP, etc) . . .

Ok, maybe I'm stretching/hoping . . . hoping for the best, expecting the worst . . . either way, I will have great excuses to drink . . . not that I need any . . .

[Nacho]

the tt rojo radieros may have overall superior talent (except at qb) but i think our chances are slim and none and slim just left town.

[froglicious]

There is no bigger [deleted] fan base than tech. They have never accomplished any thing of importance yet pop off about being a "big boy". No out right conference titles, no BCS bowls. Their one trip to the Cotton, when it was a major, embarrassed the SWC and likely led to its collapse. They finished in a 5 way tie for 2nd but aggy was on probation and tech was the only school that had never been.

Really don't care for you guys but please kick their ace

[JasonB]

OL:
Gottshaulk this year > Gottshaulk last year.
Lasecki this year > Lasecki last year
Ashcroft >= Collins
Rice > Free
McJunkin > Weeks/Briggs at this point in their career.

I think we improve at 4 of the 5 positions on the line. So I do think the OL is better than last season.