SMU at UNT

Location: Denton, Texas (Apogee Stadium)

When: September 3, 2016 - 6 p.m. CT

TV/Radio: ASN/1310 AM/96.7 FM

Series: 29-5-1 (in favor of SMU)

Know Your Opponent: Names to remember for the UNT offense start and almost end with their quarterback Alec Morris. Formerly an Alabama signee, Morris transferred to UNT and has been the pride of their team ever since. He is very talented and has a big arm that will get used early and often against an SMU defense that showed big holes in the passing game last year. If Morris keeps the Mustangs off balance with his passing, then watch out for running back Jeffery Wilson to come in and slow the pace. Wilson had over 800 yards on the ground in 2015 and with the SMU offense moving at 100 mph, UNT will use Wilson to grind the game to a halt and limit Mustang possessions.

Know Yourself: I am expecting big things from this offense today. Everyone knows that when Davis and company are cooking, really really humming in rhythm, they are very good and can keep the team in almost any game. Against UNT today I want to see them come out and blow the doors off. Get out to a big lead and let the defense be aggressive. If the defense goes out there and plays loose and fast, and most importantly wraps up, then this game will be a great way to start off the 2016 season.

Matchup to Watch: While he won’t be matched up with him every play, Kishawn McLain will be a name that Courtland Sutton will know by the end of the day. McLain led UNT in tackles last season as a sophomore and returns to command this secondary. Sutton is on his way to becoming one of the best receivers in the country and is just itching to get back on the field. Both of these guys are athletic, fast, quick and play all out. The matchup between them should be a great one to watch and a key one that UNT needs to win if they want to come out ahead in this game.

Matchup to Worry About: After losing left tackle Chad Pursley to an injury before the start of the year, sophomore Nick Natour will be solidifying the left side of the line for the game against UNT. Pursley started nine games for the Mustangs in 2015 and it would have been interesting to see how he progressed during the off-season, but instead we see Natour after he played in three games in 2015. Natour will be taking on senior defensive end jarring Roberts for most of the game. The 252-pound edge rusher will be a headache in the backfield if he can’t be single blocked, and if Matt Davis isn’t upright on his feet then the offense could struggle.

Prediction: SMU 42 UNT 27