2019 Football Preview – AAC – Mustangs
Looking for 2019 SMU Mustangs predictions? SMU is looking to jump up a rung and challenge in the AAC. That is tough to do but they recruited from new talent at querterback and maybe they can catch lightning in a bottle for season. Even that might not be enough to compete in the AAC for anything significant. A bowl berth is possible though.
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2019-20 College Football Preview – SMU Mustangs
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes
2018 Record: 5-7
SMU Mustangs Odds to win the 2019 FBS Championship: 10000/1
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SMU is not going to win the league but they can definitely be better than they were a year ago…on both sides of the ball.
2019 SMU Mustangs Predictions: Team Strengths
The Passing Game: Shane Beuchele is dropping into a nice situation to put up some numbers and get the attention of the NFL.
Last year SMU was third in the conference in passing and coach Dykes prefers to sling the ball around.
Also, all three starting receivers return led by senior James Prioche who had nearly 1200 yards and 12 TDs last season. He is the leading returning receiver in the AAC.
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He also has a returning senior starter at tight end in Ryan Becker. It should be plug and play for Beuchele who had a lot of success at Texas before transferring.
Experience on Defense: Eight starters return on defense. I know it is from a unit that was just middle of the pack in the AAC but it is better than the alternative.
All four defensive linemen return and that is three seniors and a sophomore. The latter show they are playing the best players not just going with seniority.
Speaking of the best, the best player on the defense is linebacker Richard Moore he had 92 tackles and 5 sacks a year ago. He is all league.
2019 SMU Mustangs Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Experience on defense: Yes there are 8 starters returning but that unit gave up 35ppg a year ago.
They need to be able ot get a better pass rush, especially from the guys up front. Moore is the leading returning sacker and he only had 5.
This group has to be better overall if the Mustangs are going to make the most of having Beuchele this season and maybe next.
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I am also worried about the rush offense to take some of the pressure off of Beuchele.
Last season they were 12th in the conference at 115ypg and do not have a lot returning in terms of running production from a year ago.
The offensive line is nothing special and they are looking at two new starting tackles. They need to have some balance because Beuchele is good but not overly dynamic.
SMU Mustangs Prediction: 4-8
I am not optimistic for much improvement from SMU this season.
They have a couple of tough games in the nonconference in road tilts at Arkansas State and TCU. I am not not seeing a visit from North Texas as agimme.
The AAC schedule is not too bad as they avoid the likes of UCF and Cincinnati in the East but they are not so good as to assume they are going to get road wins at places like Navy. If Tulsa and Tulane are improved they are going to have a hard time winning their home games too.
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Beuchele should bring some hope but he was not the second coming even when Texas was high on him. Garrett Gilberts did the Texas to SMU thing a little while ago with success but this version might be a little tougher to manage. I will be looking to fade SMU more than back them this season.
2019 SMU Mustangs Football Schedule
Date Time vs
- 8/31/19 7:00 PM ET @ARST
- 9/7/19 7:00 PM ET UNT
- 9/14/19 7:00 PM ET TXST
- 9/21/19 TBD @TCU
- 9/28/19 TBD @USF
- 10/5/19 TBD TLSA
- 10/19/19 TBD TEM
- 10/24/19 7:30 PM ET @HOU
- 11/2/19 TBD @MEM
- 11/9/19 TBD ECU
- 11/23/19 3:30 PM ET @NAVY
- 11/30/19 TBD TULN
What do you think about our 2019 SMU Mustangs predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2019!
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