SMU @ North Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2007 ) North Texas 31, Southern Methodist 45

Southern Methodist and host North Texas, two teams that struggled badly offensively in losing their season openers against Top 25 opponents, resume their Dallas Metroplex rivalry for the first time since since 2007 on Saturday. SMU was held to 67 total yards in a 45-0 loss at No. 9 Baylor on Monday while North Texas managed just 94 yards of total offense in a 38-7 loss at 25th-ranked Texas. The Mustangs lead the all-time series, 28-4-1, but North Texas won both previous meetings in Denton.

SMU coach June Jones will start Neal Burcham at quarterback for the second straight game even though former Texas A&M quarterback Matt Davis and freshman Kolney Cassel also saw action against Baylor. "It was difficult for the quarterbacks," Jones told the Dallas Morning News. "We didn't have time to take three steps and get a read. That's tough to evaluate."

TIME: Noon ET, Fox Sports. LINE: North Texas -2.5

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (0-1): Burcham was15-of-26 for only 59 yards in the Baylor loss but Davis (3-of-6, 12 yards) and Cassel (3-of-8, 20 yards) weren't much better. Jones indicated at least two quarterbacks will play against the Mean Green. WR Deion Sanders Jr., son of the NFL Hall of Famer who now is a commentator on the NFL Network, was one of the few bright spots in the opener for the Ponies by averaging 26.2 yards on five kickoff returns, including a 58-yarder.

ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (0-1): To say that the Mean Green struggled passing in the opener at Texas would be an understatement. Josh Greer, making his first start at quarterback, and backup Andrew McNulty combined to throw more interceptions (four, two each) than completions (three) in 17 attempts. RB Reggie Pegram, a transfer from Purdue, was one of the few bright spots for the Mean Green, rushing for 50 yards on 15 carries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. SMU quarterbacks were sacked eight times in the opening loss at Baylor.

2. Mustangs WR Darius Joseph, who finished with 103 receptions in 2013, had just three catches for 18 yards in the opener at Baylor.

3. SMU finished with minus-24 yards rushing at Baylor in part because of minus-58 yards tallied from the quarterback sacks.

PREDICTION: North Texas 20, Southern Methodist 17