SMU/UAB Information

[MParris86]

Here are some interesting tidbits for the game tonight per Rivals.com:

...some things that SMU can get excited about:

-DeMyron Martin returns to the backfield. SMU's leading returning rusher will be playing in his first home game of the season. The sophomore has 42 carries for 140 yards on the season, and hopes to get into the end zone for the first time tonight. Marshall gained 317 rushing yards last week against UAB's defense that ranks third in the conference.

-Bobby Chase will also be back as a receiver. UAB may give him special attention tonight – it was Chase's grab in the end zone on the final play of the game that gave SMU a 28-27 win at UAB last season.

-Justin Rodgers is back at defensive end. A scary episode in El Paso two weeks ago is long past now. Rodgers is a welcome addition to the defensive line, where he is tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Line play takes on extra importance tonight, as UAB's offensive line averages more than 300 pounds.

-The five-game home win streak is the program's best since a seven-game streak spanning the 1981 and 1982 seasons. Put that in context for a moment -- the streak is the longest since Eric Dickerson, Craig James and Lance McIlhenny were wearing SMU uniforms and the Mustangs were ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation.

SMU is still in contention for a bowl game, and has an outside chance at playing for the conference championship.



Also...


UAB has yet to win on the road and are only 2-5-1 in all of their contests ATS. Moreover, UAB scores less than 17 PPG on the road and averages 55 less YPG on the road. SMU, on the other hand, is 3-0 ATS when playing at home. In those home games, SMU has averaged 43.7 PPG and has held their opponents to only 14.7 PPG.

[birdsfan5]

Good info:thumbs:

[MParris86]

Dallas News Game Preview (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/smu/stories/103106dnsposmucap.262d485.html)


Preview from SMU fan:

SMU has a balanced attack. They are at their best when they pass to set up the run. SMU stops the run very well, and has major issues in pass defense; some of those could be alleviated by the changein personell. SMU has strong special teams and also has a good amount of sacks and a lot of tackles for a loss, so the d-line is doing their job.

ECU runs first to set up the pass. They run the option and then throw the ball once teams push safties up. They don't have many passing yards, but the passing efficiency is decent because of that. Their pass defense is decent, but that is mostly because the run defense is so bad; their pass efficiency defense is not good at all. Despite the defensive ends, they don't get behind the line much, not too many sacks and not many tackles for a loss at all.

This is a team that I believe SMU matches up very well against. On defense, if we can stuff them with our front 7, we are in good shape. Our safties tackle very well, and that will help us defend the option.

Offensively, they don't have a great pass defense, and we should be able to set up the run with the pass pretty well. Willis could have a very good game in this one.

We also have much better special teams, from a return aspect and a punting aspect.

Against common opponents, they beat ECU when ECU was banged up. They just lost to Marshall, which SMU beat.

I expect a 34-10 SMU victory.

[MParris86]

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/uab06/index.asp

Tuesday's game against Alabama-Birmingham has as many subplots as any game the SMU Mustangs will play all season:
• Revenge: After last year's miraculous SMU victory in Birmingham, the Blazers will be seeking to avenge their most heartbreaking loss of the 2005 campaign.
• Big-game atmosphere: ESPN2 cameras will be in Ford Stadium, broadcasting the Halloween night game to a national audience.
• Keep the streak alive: The Ponies have won all three games played at home this year, and five straight at home including the last two home games last year.
• Willis and the record books: Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Willis has thrown 19 touchdown passes this season, already establishing a new standard for freshman SMU quarterbacks. With two more scoring passes, Willis will tie Chuck Hixson's school record of 22. Willis, backup quarterback Corey Slater and wide receiver Zack Sledge have combined to throw 22 touchdown passes this season, which ties the 1990 Mustangs for the most touchdown passes in school history.
• In good hands: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders leads the Ponies with 32 receptions for 390 yards and seven touchdowns. His seven scoring catches are the most ever by an SMU freshman, and his run of six straight games with at least one touchdown catch is the longest such streak in SMU history.
• Postseason ramifications: With a win Tuesday, the Ponies will be one game away from becoming bowl-eligible.
• Sack dance: Senior defensive end Justin Rogers has five quarterback sacks this year, the most of any player in Conference USA. With two more, he will tie former SMU star Jerry Ball with 17, good for fourth place in SMU history.

UAB comes into Tuesday's game with a 3-5 record (2-2), but anyone who thinks the Ponies (4-4 overall, 2-2 C-USA) will enter the game overconfident is wrong. Coaches and players alike are wary of UAB's' athleticism and team speed, and know that the Blazers will come in to Ford Stadium looking for a measure of revenge after last year's game, which was the first ever between the two schools.

"We know they're going to be up for this game," junior linebacker Wilton McCray said. "We watched the TV (broadcast of last year's) game, and they were talking to the cameras, like they had the game won. After the touchdown (from Jerad Romo to Bobby Chase that won the game for the Mustangs), they were stunned, they were in shock. This is a big game for both teams, it's on national TV -- they'll be ready."

The biggest change between last year's UAB team and this year's version is the absence of former quarterback Darrell Hackney, a huge, strong-armed passer who was the key to the Blazers' offense. The offense has dropped off since last year, averaging 19.6 points per game this year (after putting up 27.9 points per game last year) and 315.5 yards per game this season after a 2005 campaign in which the Blazers averaged 434.6 yards per game. In Hackney's place, head coach Watson Brown rotates between senior Chris Williams (5-11, 205) and junior Sam Hunt (6-3, 215). Williams has played in all eight UAB games this year, completing 73-of-126 passes (57.9 percent) for 936 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has 41 carries for 82 yards and three scores. Hunt, who has played in five games this season, has completed 35-of-55 passes this season (63.6 percent) for 414 yards, two touchdowns and has been picked off once. Hunt is the more dangerous scrambler of the two, rushing 51 times for 120 yards and a score.

"He (Hunt) is a buddy of mine," SMU strong safety Joe Sturdivant said of Hunt, who hails from Cedartown, Ga. "He's the better runner of the two, but the other guy (Williams) moves pretty well, too. It's not like we can sit back and expect them to run only or throw only. Their offense is pretty balanced."

The Blazers might have the ability to throw or run, but statistically, their focus has been on the ground (UAB has run the ball 211 times this year, taking to the air on 182 plays). UAB rotates a quartet of talented running backs, the leader of which is senior Dan Burks (6-1, 218). Burks has a team-high 66 carries this year for 286 yards and a touchdown. Senior Marcellus Elliott (5-9, 195) has a team-high 299 rushing yards on 41 carries, while bruising senior Corey White (6-2, 235) has a team-high four rushing touchdowns.

"They'll all play, and we've got to be prepared for all of them," McCray said."No. 34 (Burks) is the main guy, and he's just solid. He's not huge, and he's not the fastest guy, but he can just run -- he's got a lot of power, and really good balance. He's just tough. But they all can play."

Hackney's departure has not eliminated the passing aspect of UAB's offense, but the Blazers are spreading the ball around more than they did when Hackney was gunning the ball downfield as often as he could. Aside from one pass from Williams to junior wide receiver Willie Edwards (6-3, 215), the Blazers have yet to complete a 40-yard pass this season. Edwards and sophomore wide receiver Sylvester Mencer (5-11, 180) lead the Blazers with 23 catches each; Edwards as a team-high 378 yards, while Mencer has accounted for 312 receiving yards.

The offense operates behind an offensive line that is strong and big. Freshman center Jake Seitz (6-2, 300) is the only non-senior in the starting five, and also the lightest of the quintet. The most talented blockers are on the right side, where Julius Wilson (6-5, 310) mans the right tackle spot and Quinton Harris (6-4, 330) starts at right guard.

The UAB defense features one of the fastest pairs of defensive ends in Conference USA. Senior Larry McSwain (6-1, 255) was the preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and leads the Blazers with five quarterback sacks. On the right side, the Ponies will have to contend with senior defensive end Jermaine McElveen (6-5, 250), who has 24 tackles, including four tackles-for-loss, and bulky nose tackle Clarence Respress (6-1, 300), who has burst through the line to make four-and-a-half tackles-for-loss this season.

The Blazers' defensive philosophy revolves around the defensive ends getting upfield quickly, funneling opponents to run up the middle. If they get past Respress, they often run into the waiting arms of senior middle linebacker Mastaki Smith (5-11, 230), who leads the Blazers with 46 tackles. Weakside linebacker Joe Henderson (6-2, 210) is second on the team with 41.

"Their front four is really active, especially those two ends -- they're really quick" SMU running back Johnnie Fitzgerald said. "If you pick (McSwain and McElveen) up, they'll bring down the free safety (senior Brandon Register: 6-2, 190). He's really strong against the run, so you always have to be aware of where he is."

Backup safety Will Dunbar (6-1, 195) leads the UAB defense with three interceptions, while sophomore cornerback Kevin Sanders (5-11, 185) has two. Overall, the Blazers have created 17 takeaways (nine interceptions, eight fumble recoveries), while the UAB offense has turned the ball over 14 times (seven interceptions, seven lost fumbles).

[JPix]

Good stuff. Thanks.:thumbs:

[Hectic]

I dont know much about this game at all but Mparris i respect you as a capper and if you predict a 34-10 victory ill lay 2 units on it BOL :thumbs:

[sixer]

i like SMU here too. SMU won straight up 28-27 as 20 pt underdogs, last year. SMU is on a 8-2 run, 4-1 as fav

UAB 4-9-1 last 14 overall, but 6-1 as dog of 8.5 pts. or less.

SMU is averaging 44 pts a game at home, and allowing only 56 rushing yds per game in the last 6 games. QB Willis has 18 td passes last 5 games.

[Soonerzz]

yep--SMU -4.5 2*.....GL :thumbs:

[MParris86]

Whoa whoa. Thanks for the compliments, but I didn't play the game tonight and the 34-10 score was a prediction by a "knowledgeable" SMU fan from another website.

If SMU doesn't cover, I'm not responsible!

[Hectic]

:thumbs: :thumbs:

[shorts]

Oh come on MP take credit where credits due! I used to live down there and partied with some of those SMU students now where did you find a knowledgable one???!!! LMAO!! Just joking don't anybody attack they're a great bunch down there! I wonder if the Cactus Rose Cafe is still there?

Best of luck to ya!

Edited due to dumbass fingers!