Rutgers @ SMU preview

Rutgers looks for a fourth straight win as it opens American Athletic Conference play with a visit to Southern Methodist on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights have all the momentum but will have to forge forward without leading rusher Paul James, who was second in the nation in rushing yards before suffering a lower leg injury in the win over Arkansas last week. Junior Savon Huggins, who will be called upon primarily in James' absence, has 138 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries this season.

The Mustangs enter play hoping to shake the sting of consecutive blowout losses. SMU fell behind early and never recovered in a 42-13 road loss to No. 9 Texas A&M and led 10-7 at halftime in the battle for the Iron Skillet last week at TCU before being outscored 41-7 in the second half. SMU's offensive line has been problematic, allowing 17 sacks through four games, and faces a stiff test in a Rutgers defensive that ranks 24th in the nation with 11 sacks.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Rutgers -4.5.

ABOUT RUTGERS (3-1, 0-0 AAC): The Scarlet Knights lean heavily on the run game and are 34-8 since 2006 when amassing 150 or more yards on the ground, so replacing James, who averaged 143.3 rushing yards per game, is no easy feat. Aside from Huggins, Rutgers will look to a pair of freshmen in Desmon Peoples and Justin Goodwin to chip in. The Rutgers secondary, which has allowed 261.8 yards per game through the air and a conference-high eight passing touchdowns, faces a stiff test in a pass-heavy SMU offense currently tied for 11th in the nation with 330.5 passing yards per game.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (1-3, 0-0 AAC): The Mustangs edged Montana State in the second week of the season, 31-30, but have otherwise been trounced by an average of 26 points. The defense has had a difficult time getting off the field in the early part of the season, allowing a conference-worst 99 first downs and 161 points. Only Idaho's Chad Chalich (24) and Connecticut's Chandler Whitmer (20) have been sacked more than SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert, though the senior ranks among the nation's passing leaders, averaging 322.8 yards per game through the air.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Scarlet Knights won their final three conference openers as a member of the old Big East but are 3-7 when starting conference play on the road since 1991.

2. The Mustangs finished plus-9 in turnover margin in 2012 but are minus-7 through four games this season.

3. Rutgers has benefited from three special teams touchdowns this season, with Janarion Grant returning both a punt and a kickoff for a score and Quron Pratt also contributing a kick return touchdown.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 31, SMU 20