North Texas @ Louisiana State preview
Tiger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2008 ) North Texas 3, Louisiana State 41
Top-ranked LSU will face plenty of hurdles in its quest for its fourth national championship as the Tigers try to navigate the loaded SEC West, but Saturday's opener against North Texas should be little more than a tune-up for the Tigers. LSU looks to extend three impressive winning streaks - 37 straight regular-season non-conference games, 17 straight at Tiger Stadium and 13 consecutive regular-season wins. None of those streaks would appear to be in jeopardy against the Mean Green, who are in the second season of coach Dan McCarney's rebuilding project. LSU has won all four meetings with North Texas by a combined 198-13. The Tigers did endure some preseason adversity, though, as star defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed from the team for violating undisclosed team rules.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: LSU -45
ABOUT LSU (2011: 13-1, 8-0 SEC): The Tigers have their top four rushers back in Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard, but they have a new quarterback in Zach Mettenberger, who will make his first start after playing five games as a backup last season. LSU will again lean on its dominant defense, though, with five returning starters, including three on the defensive line.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (2011: 5-7, 4-4 Sun Belt): The Mean Green tallied their most wins since 2004 in McCarney's first season, and have nine starters back on offense and five on defense. Leading the way on offense is quarterback Derek Thompson, who passed for 1,759 yards last season and has his top two receivers back. North Texas is unproven in the backfield, though, where three returning running backs combined for only 106 rushing yards last year.
EXTRA POINTS
1. During its 37-game non-conference win streak in the regular season, LSU has outscored opponents 1,479-391, including a 1,163-236 margin at home.
2. LSU has won a school-record nine straight season openers dating to a loss to Virginia Tech to open the 2002 campaign.
3. North Texas is 37-56-3 all-time in season openers and has lost 13 of its last 15 opening games.
PREDICTION: LSU 56, North Texas 6