One month out...Ceiling and Floor for SMU this year...

[peruna81]

Ceiling: 11-1 season, 7-1 conference, ACC Title game, CFP for year 2
Floor: 9-3 season, 5-3 conference, losses at Clem's son, Miami, and Louisville.

[malonish]

Ceiling: 11-1 season, 7-1 conference, ACC Title game, CFP for year 2
Floor: 9-3 season, 5-3 conference, losses at Clem's son, Miami, and Louisville.

We'll have to talk to Clem about his kid then won't we

[SMUFan]

Well played, malonish.

I guess I'm on board with peruna91's ceiling, but I'm a more paranoid fan, I guess, so I worry that the floor could be lower. In a worst-case scenario (and this doesn't even include major injuries to key players), any of the following teams COULD beat us: TCU, Baylor, Clemson, Miami, Louisville.

I'm not saying I think they all will. I don't. But we have a lot of new (and in some cases, young) guys at linebacker, defensive line, wide receiver, etc. It sounds like the new starters are talented, but youth can lead to inconsistency.

[Dukie]

Well played, malonish.

I guess I'm on board with peruna91's ceiling, but I'm a more paranoid fan, I guess, so I worry that the floor could be lower. In a worst-case scenario (and this doesn't even include major injuries to key players), any of the following teams COULD beat us: TCU, Baylor, Clemson, Miami, Louisville.

I'm not saying I think they all will. I don't. But we have a lot of new (and in some cases, young) guys at linebacker, defensive line, wide receiver, etc. It sounds like the new starters are talented, but youth can lead to inconsistency.

I agree. I'd in no way predict it, but 7-5 is entirely possible.

[Charleston Pony]

Well played, malonish.

I guess I'm on board with peruna91's ceiling, but I'm a more paranoid fan, I guess, so I worry that the floor could be lower. In a worst-case scenario (and this doesn't even include major injuries to key players), any of the following teams COULD beat us: TCU, Baylor, Clemson, Miami, Louisville.

I'm not saying I think they all will. I don't. But we have a lot of new (and in some cases, young) guys at linebacker, defensive line, wide receiver, etc. It sounds like the new starters are talented, but youth can lead to inconsistency.

I agree. I'd in no way predict it, but 7-5 is entirely possible.

I like the ceiling but agree the floor could be as low as 7-5 but even that gets us a random bowl

[highlander]

Ceiling is 12-0. Floor is 0-12. Unfalsifiable.

[highlander]

But we have a lot of new (and in some cases, young) guys at linebacker, defensive line, wide receiver, etc. It sounds like the new starters are talented, but youth can lead to inconsistency.

Lashlee made a great point yesterday: he reminded everyone that this time last year no one knew who Brashard Smith was.

[GHammond]

I’m feeling 8-4 to 10-2…i have this feeling that the O-Line shines and we have three running backs who rush for 1500 yards total, with Maryland having an All- American year. I’m thinking sort of a Maxson - Morris vibe with a just superb TE play and a D that bends but dowant break. We certainly could be in the CFP again this year.

[ponyte]

12-0 Best case. `10-2 pprobable. Worse 8-4

We can run the table. Key is early dominance and don't screw up the first 5 minutes against Clemson.


Probable, lose to Clemson as its a tough road game and we always seem to manage losing a game we shouldn't.

Worse. Injuries and bad breaks during key games.

Overall optimistic about this team. We'll know more after the first weekend (TCU-UNC, Clemson LSU, ND-Miami).

[EastStang]

I saw some wag said we had the 6th weakest schedule in the country. I'm not sure what that guy was smoking. But it that's true, then 12-0 is possible and 7-5 might occur with injuries. We have in my view six tough games. Baylor, TCU, Clemson, Miami, BC and Louisville. Syracuse is no gimme either.

[PonyME]

Playing in Boston in early November isn’t ideal…could be a beautiful fall day or 40s and cold rain. We have a totally reconstructed team since the Fenway Bowl that is more capable to deal with those type of factors, but I wouldn’t count that as a guaranteed W. Ceiling: 11-1, floor 7-5.

[highlander]

I saw some wag said we had the 6th weakest schedule in the country. I'm not sure what that guy was smoking. But it that's true, then 12-0 is possible and 7-5 might occur with injuries. We have in my view six tough games. Baylor, TCU, Clemson, Miami, BC and Louisville. Syracuse is no gimme either.

6th weakest? That is both insightful and meaningful, seeing how no one has played a game yet.

[JasonB]

Don't underrate how much more difficult the schedule is this season. We did things last year like pull out the Duke game even though we made a ton of mistakes. We lose @Clemson, Miami, and Louisville this year if that happens, of course, but Baylor, @TCU, Syracuse, @Wake and @BC are all going to be interesting games for a variety of different reasons. The ACC was really down last year, but I would expect a step up this season.

[PlanoStang]

Ceiling is 12-0. Floor is 0-12. Unfalsifiable.

Going out on a limb are you

11 - 1 ceiling, and a 6 - 6 floor sounds reasonable. I'll pencil in wins against ET A&M, Mizzou State, Stanford, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Cal.

[highlander]

Don't underrate how much more difficult the schedule is this season. We did things last year like pull out the Duke game even though we made a ton of mistakes. We lose @Clemson, Miami, and Louisville this year if that happens, of course, but Baylor, @TCU, Syracuse, @Wake and @BC are all going to be interesting games for a variety of different reasons. The ACC was really down last year, but I would expect a step up this season.

JasonB - are we on balance better this year, or just different?