Texas A&M @ SMU preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) Southern Methodist 13, Texas A&M 42

Johnny who? The absence of former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has not slowed the potent offense of seventh-ranked Texas A&M, which is seeking its first 4-0 start since 2006 when it visits intrastate rival Southern Methodist on Saturday. The Aggies have made a seamless transition under sophomore Kenny Hill, who has notched 11 touchdown passes versus zero interceptions and is the first quarterback in school history to throw for over 1,000 yards in the first three games.

Texas A&M has been an offensive machine starting with an eye-opening upset at then-No. 20 South Carolina, rolling up 163 points in its three wins, and doesn't figure to encounter much resistance from the overmatched Mustangs. Not only has SMU been steamrolled in losing its first two games by a combined 88-6, the team will be playing under a new coach after June Jones resigned Sept. 8. Defensive coordinator Tom Mason was named his replacement on an interim basis and faces a daunting task in the Mustangs' home opener.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2. LINE: Texas A&M -33.5

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (3-0): While Hill continues to show he is a worthy successor to Manziel, throwing for four touchdowns and 300 yards in last week's 38-10 victory over Rice, the Aggies also entered the season wondering how to replace Mike Evans, a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Malcome Kennedy leads the team with 24 receptions and is among five players with double-digit receptions, including 6-5 Ricky Seals-Jones, who missed much of his freshman campaign with a knee injury. Texas A&M also features an impact freshman on the other side of the ball in defensive lineman Myles Garrett, who recorded two more sacks last week to give him an SEC-leading 5.5 on the season.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (0-2): Citing personal reasons, coach June Jones resigned two days after the 43-6 drubbing at North Texas, leaving the Mustangs to go forward under Mason, who spent his previous six seasons as the school's defensive coordinator. Redshirt freshman Kolney Cassel will be making his first career start after coming off the bench to throw for 134 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-21 passing, but SMU must find a way to get some semblance of a ground game going after being held to minus-14 yards over the first two games. Wide receiver Darius Joseph, who caught 103 passes last season, sat out the last game with a hamstring injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas A&M has won five straight versus SMU and the average victory margin over the past three seasons is 35.3 points.

2. SMU's only points this season came on the final play of the loss to North Texas.

3. The Aggies will be without star WR Speedy Noil, who is expected to miss three to five weeks with a knee injury.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 44, SMU 10