2012-13 Football Previews – (C-USA) – SMU
June Jones has turned around the SMU program nicely, and now the goals and expectations are much higher for the Mustangs. Texas transfer Garrett Gilbert will be eligible at quarterback at this year, and many people believe the Mustangs should have a powerful offense in 2012.
Conference USA 2012-2013 College Football Previews: SMU
Head Coach: June Jones
2011 Record: 8-5
SMU Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS Championship: (Part of Field) +1,800
SMU Gambling Odds from BetOnline to win Conference USA: +500
SMU Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>
An 8-5 record in 2011 wasn’t bad, but this team really expects more. Can they take the next step this season?
For a brief time in the offseason it appeared June Jones would be the new coach at Arizona State, but he is back with SMU this year.
There has been one major thing holding this team back in the last two years. SMU finished 111th out of 120 teams in turnover margin in 2010. In 2011, the Mustangs ranked dead last (120th) in the nation in turnover margin. They turned the ball over 32 times last year.
That has to improve for this team to move up in the standings.
Team Strengths:
Zach Line was a lightly-recruited linebacker from Michigan a few years ago, but now he is one of the best running backs in the nation. Line ranked seventh nationally with 122.4 yards per game and 5.88 yards per carry. Line is not only a great runner, but he is also a good pass catcher and blocker out of the backfield. SMU has a real winner in the backfield here.
SMU is stacked at the linebacker position on defense. It really is the strongest unit on the entire team. Ja’Gared Davis and Taylor Reed are two of the best linebackers in the conference, and both of them are senior leaders for this Mustangs defense. Junior Cameron Rogers looks like he is ready for a breakout season as well. Not many teams in the nation have this kind of talent at linebacker. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Team Weaknesses:
SMU must replace all five offensive linemen this season. The Mustangs had one of the best offensive fronts in all of football last year, but this year they’ll take a big step backward. Even though they have some big guys ready to step in, it’s tough to imagine this group being as productive as last year.
SMU’s defensive front returns only one starter from a year ago. Torlan Pittman is a very strong defensive tackle, but the depth along the defensive front is definitely lacking. The best defenses all have plenty of guys to rotate in along the defensive line, and the Mustangs don’t have that this season.
2012-2013 SMU Football Prediction: 9-4
SMU’s non-conference schedule is brutally tough this year. The Mustangs must travel to Baylor to start the year, then they play Texas A&M and TCU at home in September as well. The conference schedule isn’t particularly tough, but the game at UCF will be a major test. SMU plays its toughest Conference USA West opponents at home in 2012.
Garrett Gilbert will be the biggest key to this team’s season. If he finds himself at SMU and becomes a great quarterback then this team could do some special things. Gilbert struggled at Texas, but it will be interesting to see how he does under June Jones. In the end, I think SMU has a strong season and it wouldn’t surprise me if they won the league.
2012 SMU Schedule
9/2/12 6:30 PM ET @BAY
9/8/12 TBD SAUST
9/15/12 3:30 PM ET TXAM
9/29/12 TBD TCU
10/6/12 TBD @UTEP
10/13/12 TBD @TULNE
10/20/12 TBD HOU
10/27/12 TBD MEM
11/3/12 TBD @CENFL
11/10/12 TBD SOMIS
11/17/12 TBD @RICE
11/24/12 TBD TULSA
