SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert shuts down Stephen F. Austin State University at home last season in a 52-0 win. (Sidney Hollingsworth / The Daily Campus )
SMU vs. Texas Tech
Friday, Aug. 30
The Kliff Kingsbury era kicks off for Texas Tech at SMU for what should be a Friday night thriller in Dallas with two offensive-minded coaches facing off. SMU’s head coach June Jones has brought in the father of the Air Raid offense, Hal Mumme, to tweak his Run-‘n’-Shoot offense and breathe life into the Mustangs’ offense that has struggled under Jones to live up to expectations. If the changes take well for the Mustangs, this could be a barnburner of a game.
Prediction: Behind Garrett Gilbert’s big game and Mumme and Jones play calling, the Mustangs win 42-38.
SMU vs. Montana State: Saturday, Sept. 7
SMU welcomes FCS opponent Montana State into Ford Stadium in what should have been the Mustangs versus the Baylor Bears, but the Bobcats are not terrible. Montana State went 11-2 last season in the Big Sky Conference and could test the Mustangs after a big win over Texas Tech, but the Mustangs won’t have many problems staying focused with a bye week ahead of them.
Prediction: The Mustangs will not force 10 turnovers like they did against Stephen F. Austin, but the defense will hold the Bobcats to single digits. Mustangs win 35-6.
SMU at Texas A&M: Saturday, Sept. 21
Last time the Mustangs went down to College Station, it wasn’t pretty. Even worse, SMU was crushed in the second half last year at home by the Aggies. With Johnny Manziel in his second year in Coach Kevin Sumlin’s system, this could be another rough one for the Mustangs if the offense doesn’t help. This time, the Mustangs may at least get in the endzone, but Manziel is just too much to handle once again.
Prediction: The Mustangs hang tough in the first half, but the second half is all Aggies. Mustangs lose 42-17.
SMU at TCU:
Saturday, Sept. 28
The SMU defense kept the Mustangs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet for much of the game last season, but once again the offense wasn’t there to help in the rainy game against the Horned Frogs. This season is different with Gilbert and Shead each totaling over 100 yards on the ground and the defense stepping up again for the Mustangs. Casey Pachall is picked off by the Mustangs at least twice in the redzone and ultimately that kills TCU.
Prediction: The team rebounds extremely well to win the Iron Skillet 32-21.
SMU vs. Rutgers:
Saturday, Oct. 5
In the Mustangs’ first American Athletic Conference game, SMU welcomes the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to Dallas in what could be a preview of the top two teams in the conference. Rutgers went 9-4 last season and returns quarterback Gary Nova, who had a solid season for the Knights even with a six-interception performance in a loss against Kent State. Nova should be much improved, but Rutgers must replace 1,000 yard back Jawan Jamison. The Mustangs will shut down the Rutgers rushing attack and Shead will run for over 150 yards as the Mustangs will shock plenty of people in their first conference game.
Prediction: Mustangs win by controlling the clock, 28-21.
SMU at Memphis:
Saturday, Oct. 19
Memphis came on strong at the end of last year, winning three straight, even if they were against conference bottom feeders. Justin Fuente’s team should be improved with quarterback Jacob Karam returning for another season as well as running backs Brandon Hayes and Jai Steib, who split carries last season as juniors. The Mustangs will again have to shut down a rushing attack to win and they will. Memphis is on the right track, but SMU is headed towards June Jones’ best season.
Prediction: Traylon Shead is showing why he’s one of the best backs in the conference as SMU wins 45-17.
SMU vs. Temple:
Saturday, Oct. 26
Temple visits SMU after three potentially rough games against Louisville, Cincinnati and Army and that plays to the Mustangs advantage. Temple was average last season and the Mustangs will use this as a tune up game before their bye week and then a showdown at Cincinnati two weeks later. The Mustangs put up big points early then Neal Burcham shows why his future is bright as the Mustangs next quarterback.
Prediciton: SMU wins behind Gilbert’s five total touchdowns, 56-10.
SMU at Cincinnati:
Saturday, Nov. 9
New head coach Tommy Tuberville is settling in nicely for the Cincinnati Bearcats, but the Mustangs come to town in a big showdown fresh off a bye week. Cincinnati will also have a long week to prepare after playing on the previous Wednesday, but will have a new quarterback, running back and will have to replace its top two receivers. The Mustangs on the other hand, are on a roll offensively with Gilbert and Shead leading the way. This is the game that can make or break the Mustangs season and unfortunately the road game proves too much for SMU.
Prediction: SMU loses on a last minute field goal, 24-21.
SMU vs. Connecticut:
Saturday, Nov. 16
Connecticut had a extremely young team last season and by this point in the 2013 season, the team will be seasoned with juniors and seniors. Quarterback Chandler Whitmer didn’t throw for many touchdowns last season, but he did throw 16 interceptions. If the rising junior cuts down on his mistakes and the Huskies run the football well with rising junior Lyle McCombs, the Mustangs could face their second straight defeat. The Mustangs do bounce back though as Gilbert operates the offense efficiently and the long road trip is too much for the Huskies.
Prediction: Mustangs win to get back on track 35-17.
SMU at South Florida:
Saturday, Nov. 23
With the Mustangs still entrenched in the fight for a conference championship, the team heads to USF to face a Bulls team that a lot of people are picking as a dark horse to challenge Louisville in the AAC. The Mustangs have played extremely well this season, but the Bulls have too much speed and play with too much energy under new coach Willie Taggart to handle. Gilbert and the offense keep pace for the first half, but fade away in the second half.
Prediction: USF ends the Mustangs hopes for a conference championship 35-21.
SMU at Houston:
Friday, Nov. 29
SMU faces the rival Cougars in a Friday night primetime matchup and offense is going to be the storyline in this one. By this time, the Cougars would have found a solid replacement for running back Charles Sims, who left the team this offseason, and David Piland is having a solid senior season as well. The Mustangs will bounce back though again on the road to take bragging rights back to Dallas with a strong defensive performance from the linebacking corps.
Prediction: Linebacker Randall Joyner scores a defensive touchdown to seal the win, 24-14.
SMU vs. UCF:
Saturday, Dec. 7
UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is probably the second best quarterback in the AAC behind Teddy Bridgewater, but Garrett Gilbert is trying to show that he is not behind Bortles in the conference. This is going to be a quarterback duel the whole game and while Gilbert doesn’t hurt the Mustangs, Bortles makes more plays to beat the Mustangs for the second straight season. UCF shuts down the SMU running game and is able to hold the Mustangs in the redzone once or twice to make the difference.
Prediction: UCF wins 42-34 behind Bortles big day.
