OSM{SMU} 72, Houston 42

October 18, 2012--Wow, did I ever pick the wrong week to stop updating the College Football Shame Mask! Sure, I was applying for jobs and preparing to go to Iceland Airwaves in a week, but still this game was not something to be missed. Shame on me!

I am conditioned to think that a team wearing a Shame Mask that allows 560 yards of total offense and 42 points, they will lose. In this game, however, SMU did just that and won by 30 points! What's their secret? Force nine turnovers! While SMU did throw two intersections of their own, one of which was returned for a touchdown, the Mustangs got six interceptions--two from each of Houston's three quarterbacks--and returned three for touchdowns. A back-and-forth first half ended with Taylor Reed's 6-yard INT return for a touchdown with 1:03 left before halftime gave SMU a 28-14 lead as they went to the locker room. When they came back out, Houston received the opening kickoff and promptly fumbled it so that SMU's Kevin Pope could return it 20 yards for a touchdown, one of three Houston fumbles on the day. An SMU field goal followed immediately by a 10-yard INT return for a touchdown in the next three minutes quickly put the game in SMU's command.