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+----- Thread: Why North Texas can Beat SMU on Sept. 3 (/thread-786533.html)
Why North Texas can Beat SMU on Sept. 3 - Side Show Joe - 08-07-2016 08:25 AM
The Mean Green have had a rough decade, and things finally reached a breaking point last season following a historic loss to Portland State. Coach McCarney was fired before he even made it to the locker room. The AD was a lame duck the rest of the season. In truth, our fan base is still seems fractured.
The good news is thing are getting better. Seth Littrell, the offensive guru that lead North Carolina's high powered attack that finished 34th in passing and 18th in running last season, has been brought in to modernize McCarney's out dated power running offensive system. Littrell's plan for getting North Texas back into contention seems to focus on adding talent and depth from the Juco ranks. Several transfers are set to join the Mean Green for fall camp. Some will certainly become key contributors this season, while others will fade into obscurity.
How does this influence the outcome of the SMU game? First, SMU won't really have tap to study. Littrell already has a different offense from last season's, but add in a roster that could contain as many as 5 or 6 new starters or contributors on each side of the ball, and it will make it difficult for Morris and his coaches to game plan for their trip to Denton. Second, although the Mean Green will have many news faces on the field, they will return one of the better running backs in Texas. Jeffrey Wilson averaged 5.4 yards per carry through 10 games last season, in a very one dimensional running offense. Plus, Wilson has proven to be a real threat when catching out of the back field. The talented junior stands to have a big year in this new system quarterbacked by Alabama graduate transfer Alec Morris, and featuring an upgraded receiving corp. The addition of a solid passing game should create opportunities for Wilson to have big runs against SMU's weak run defense.
Remember, SMU finished ranked 123rd last season in Rushing Defense, and SMU has yet to win a game in Denton, losing all 3 contests by a combined score of 81-19.
My prediction: North Texas 42 SMU 34