Total is 56.5

SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

Smoo hasn't seen an offense like this.

If i was a betting man I think the better odds to payout will be betting an alt line that SMU wins by 21+, I have lost a lot of faith on this defense to stop any team with a pulse

We have a chance to really have a defining win this season. I hope the guys are motivated!

Joke's on them! Cal absolutely sucks when we're favored.

chunkybear said:

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We have a chance to really have a defining win this season. I hope the guys are motivated!

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Fourth time's the charm?

Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

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I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

chunkybear said:

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We have a chance to really have a defining win this season. I hope the guys are motivated!

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And what's the definition? Red Box bowl runner up?

Will Cade be back?

ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

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I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

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If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

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If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

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Possibly. Depends on results. SMU is better than Cal. They likely will be motivated. They are at home. I expect a loss. But with bowl eligibility out of the way I want to see if Cal will play loose and free and make it interesting. The CFP would prefer the Miami brand but 11-2 could be good enough if they play close.

And chaos continues around the rest of the nation.

Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

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If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

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All of those ranked SEC teams taking 3rd losses last week opened up this possibility.

6956bear said:

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Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

---

If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

---

Possibly. Depends on results. SMU is better than Cal. They likely will be motivated. They are at home. I expect a loss. But with bowl eligibility out of the way I want to see if Cal will play loose and free and make it interesting. The CFP would prefer the Miami brand but 11-2 could be good enough if they play close.

And chaos continues around the rest of the nation.

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Who woulda thunk it?

RedlessWardrobe said:

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6956bear said:

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Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

---

If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

---

Possibly. Depends on results. SMU is better than Cal. They likely will be motivated. They are at home. I expect a loss. But with bowl eligibility out of the way I want to see if Cal will play loose and free and make it interesting. The CFP would prefer the Miami brand but 11-2 could be good enough if they play close.

And chaos continues around the rest of the nation.

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Who woulda thunk it?

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Not sure if you're being facetious. But given SMU's wealthy alumni fan base and how football mad Texans are, this was entirely expected in the NIL and portal era. I just hadn't figured SMU would be so good so fast!

If anything, Wilcox will be unmotivated, having secured the adoration of sunshine pumpers by narrowing beating Stanford and clenching a bowl for the second year in a row.

DoubtfulBear said:

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If anything, Wilcox will be unmotivated, having secured the adoration of sunshine pumpers by narrowing beating Stanford and clenching a bowl for the second year in a row.

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The Bears clinched a bowl. It sounds like you clenched a bowl.

SMU should have bigger ambitions. It is just not a playoff spot, they need to beat Cal for a higher playoff seed towards a Natti. You guys are thinking too much like Cal fans. If I'm their coach I'm telling the team pedal to metal.

01Bear said:

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RedlessWardrobe said:

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6956bear said:

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Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

---

If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

---

Possibly. Depends on results. SMU is better than Cal. They likely will be motivated. They are at home. I expect a loss. But with bowl eligibility out of the way I want to see if Cal will play loose and free and make it interesting. The CFP would prefer the Miami brand but 11-2 could be good enough if they play close.

And chaos continues around the rest of the nation.

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Who woulda thunk it?

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Not sure if you're being facetious. But given SMU's wealthy alumni fan base and how football mad Texans are, this was entirely expected in the NIL and portal era. I just hadn't figured SMU would be so good so fast!

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My reply was facetious. I was simply basing it on the performance of the two teams this season. Nothing more, nothing less, just the overstatement of the week.

RedlessWardrobe said:

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6956bear said:

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Cal88 said:

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ducky23 said:

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Cal88 said:

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SMU is playing for a playoff spot, they will be motivated, and the ACC refs might favor them (see our game vs Miami).

---

I could be wrong, but I don't think the cal game will have significant bearing on their playoff hopes.

They've already clinched the title game. And if they lose that, I'm pretty sure they're out anyways

---

If they beat us and lose to Miami in the CCG, they're on the playoffs bubble.

---

Possibly. Depends on results. SMU is better than Cal. They likely will be motivated. They are at home. I expect a loss. But with bowl eligibility out of the way I want to see if Cal will play loose and free and make it interesting. The CFP would prefer the Miami brand but 11-2 could be good enough if they play close.

And chaos continues around the rest of the nation.

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Who woulda thunk it?

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SMU was 11-3 in 2023. They won their conference by going unbeaten and then defeating Tulane in their conference championship. They may have been the best G5 team at seasons end. They went hard in the portal for the types of players needed to play in the P4. They have an excellent HC and a collective/donor base willing to pay.

Most analysts figured they would be the best of the 3 newcomers to the ACC. They were right. But yes they are likely a year ahead of schedule. SMU has taken advantage of a relatively light conference schedule. No Miami or Clemson and a down FSU at home. No Syracuse either. Road games at Duke, UVa and Stanford. Their most difficult conference opponent was Louisville. A decent team but one that did lose to Stanford. They played Pitt in Dallas and steamrolled them. We saw Pitt and Cal should have won that game.

I do not like the matchup for Cal. SMU is athletic on defense. They have a very athletic QB that can pass the ball but is a real threat as a runner as well. A good RB and an excellent HC. They should be motivated and will be at home.

Cal will need some help from SMU IMO.