SMU @ North Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2017 ) North Texas 32, Southern Methodist 54

Record-breaking quarterbacks will face off when SMU travels to North Texas on Saturday night to open the season. Mustangs junior Ben Hicks and Mean Green junior Mason Fine are both on the Manning Award watch list to start the year.

Hicks (3,569 passing yards) returns after setting SMU records for passing touchdowns in a single season (33) and career (52). He'll have plenty of help in the backfield with a stable of running backs that combined for 22 rushing scores last year. First-year coach Sonny Dykes does have to replace two receivers that were taken in the NFL Draft and several key pieces on defense. SMU has won three straight against its in-state rival by a combined 54 points.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Stadium. LINE: North Texas -4.5

ABOUT SMU (2017: 7-6): Junior James Proche (40 catches, 816 yards, six touchdowns) is the top returning receiver but West Virginia transfer Reggie Roberson Jr. (a sophomore) and Notre Dame graduate transfer CJ Sanders give the Mustangs some new targets. Junior Xavier Jones led the ground game with 1,075 yards and nine scores last year while senior Braeden West (568 yards, two scores) and junior Ke'Mon Freeman (543 yards, 11 scores) give the Mustangs plenty of options. The SMU secondary is packed with experience, including returning starter Jordan Wyatt (the senior cornerback had 49 tackles and four interceptions in 2017) and leading tackler Mikial Onu, a junior safety who had 105 stops.

ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (2017: 9-5): Fine set single-season program records in passing yards (4,052), passing touchdowns (31), completions (324) and attempts (511) last year. The Mean Green return their top three receivers, including junior Michael Lawrence (62 catches, 819 yards, four TDs). Sophomore Nic Smith (684 yards, six TDs) has been tabbed to start at running back after the graduation of Jeffery Wilson (1,215 yards, 16 TDs last year).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mustangs' juniors Delontae Scott (2.5 sacks) and Tyeson Neals (4.5 sacks) and California graduate transfer Noah Westerfield will try to replace the production of graduated DE Justin Lawler (9.5 sacks).

2. SMU was ranked eighth nationally last year with 88 plays of 20-plus yards.

3. Fine is also on the preseason lists for the Walter Camp, Davey O'Brien, Maxwell and Sammy Baugh awards.

PREDICTION: SMU 37, North Texas 24