LONGHORNHOOSIER, WEEK 1 - 2015

Thanks guys.   Busy at work.   Don't have time for a very detailed rationale, but I will give you my score predictions and some base points.

Baylor -35

Baylor 63 SMU 10

Superior talent on both side of ball, playoff exclusion, loss to Mich St, Boise St Tr issue, recruiting DFW, new systems for SMU, offset somewhat by Morris enthusiasm and O Tech ability.    Plus, throw in the angle that Baylor DC Phil Bennett was the HC at SMU prior to June Jones and was fired by the university.   I bet he will be gunning for a shutout, though he probably won't get it.     I will be very surprised if SMU covers.  This is my #1 play.

NC State -25.5

QB J Brissette for NC State, Talent Delta, NC State on the rise, Brown new coach at Troy with new systems.   Night game in Raleigh.    NC State has been beat down for a few years, and want to take a step up.   This is their opp. They have  solid running game, a potential NFL QB, and a serviceable D.  This should be good enough against a bottom 10 Troy team.

NC State 56 Troy 3

Arkansas -33

UTEP is improved with Kuglar.  If this game were at night in El Paso, it would be a no play for me.  But, its in Fayetteville in the afternoon.  Yes, Ark has to replace some NFL talent on D that destroyed my beloved Longhorns in the Texas Bowl, and yes they lost their top RB in Williams, but they have Collins et al, plus a new pass oriented OC in Dan Enos that will keep D honest.   Plus, BB is a prick, and with his Texas recruiting pipeline will want the headline across Texas to read his R Backs put 50+ on a Texas Team and held them to under 10.

Arkansas 52 UTEP 10

Miss St. -23.5

Miss St won 49 to 0 last season and called off the dogs in the 4th.   This game is at H-Berg, but Miss St fans and their cowbells should be there in mass.  Miss St returns a NFL caliber (would have been a 1st rounder in the 2015 draft) but not much else with regard to starters.  However, I believe Mullin and the hype that Miss St has experienced players returning.   S Miss is their brother, and though Monken will have them improved this season in CUSA play, Miss St will dominate from the getgo.

Miss St 45

Southern Miss 10

Northwestern +12

Tough to call.  Stan has the talent advantage, but a night game at Evanston against Fitzgerland's Mighty Mites, anything can happen.    I personally think this is the circled game of the year for NW.    Stan has an aggressive D, but they only return 4 starters.  Hogan will expose the overmatched NW D, but I just have this feeling NW will play above their talent level and give Stan a game, in a losing effort...

Stanford 27 Northwestern 21

Notre Dame/Texas Under 54.5

I will attend this game in South Bend, rooting on my Longhorns.   I think Tyrone Swoopes has the potential to "break out" and rid himself of the bad memories of TCU and Ark games.  Call me a delusional homer, but I think this will be a Defensive struggle for both teams, and Texas will be in the game in the 4th quarter.

Notre Dame 27 Texas 24

Please let me know what you think.  Thank you in advance.   Good Luck to all!