U N T / F A U Preview & Prediction

MeanGreen61 · September 19, 2007

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 22nd, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Fouts Field (30,500) -- Denton, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: FAU 1-0, UNT 0-0. Away Record: FAU 0-1, UNT 0-2. Neutral Record: FAU 1-0, UNT 0-0. Conference Record: FAU 1-0, UNT 0-0. Series Record: Florida Atlantic leads, 3-0.

GAME NOTES: The North Texas Mean Green will try to capture their first victory of the season when they open their Sun Belt Conference schedule this Saturday evening against the Florida Atlantic Owls from Fouts Field. The Owls head into this contest riding a huge wave of momentum after disposing of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 42-39. It was the second victory of the season for the Owls who opened the new campaign with a hard-fought 27-14 victory over Middle Tennessee. As for the Mean Green, they opened the season with two straight setbacks to Oklahoma (79-10) and SMU (45-31). Fortunately the team was able to enjoy a much needed bye week this past weekend. Next on the horizon for UNT will be two straight road games against Arkansas and UL-Lafayette. FAU has dominated this series, winning all three meetings. Last season the Owls pulled off a slim, 17-16 victory over North Texas in Denton.

After scoring just six points against Oklahoma State in their previous matchup, the Owls exploded for 42 points in a victory over Minnesota. In the win, FAU totaled a whopping 580 yards, including a sensational 463 yards through the air. Along with that yardage, quarterback Rusty Smith also tossed five touchdowns in the win. It was easily the best performance of the season for Smith, who has thrown for just 783 yards thus far. The signal-caller has seven touchdowns and just one interception on the season, and has completed just 57.6 percent of his passes. The ground game has been decent as well, posting 120.3 ypg. Charles Pierre has been the top option out of the backfield for FAU, as the tailback has 191 yards and two scores on 38 totes. Against the Gophers, Pierre ran the ball just 17 times, but finished with 89 yards and one score.

The Owls have struggled this season defensively, especially against the pass, as opponents are averaging 263 ypg through the air. Overall the unit is allowing 391.7 total ypg, which has led to 31.7 ppg. The unit's trouble against the pass continued this past week, as the defense allowed Minnesota to pass for 335 yards. Overall the Owls surrendered 470 yards, but despite the poor effort FAU was still victorious. A huge reason for the win, was the seven turnovers that FAU forced. The Owls have done a tremendous job at forcing miscues, as the team has already forced 13 in three games. Frantz Joseph was sensational in the win over Minnesota, as the linebacker led the team with 14 tackles and also recovered one fumble and collected one INT.

It is safe to say that the Mean Green are a one-dimensional offense, as the unit is posting just 13.5 rushing ypg, while throwing for an eye-popping 416.5 ypg. The lopsided approach was even more evident in the team's recent loss to SMU, as quarterback Daniel Meager threw for a school-record 601 yards. Meager finished the game 46-of-64 with three touchdowns and three interceptions. That passing record led to a receiving mark for Casey Fitzgerald, who hauled in 18 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile the rushing attack for UNT churned out just 39 yards on 12 carries in the contest. It was a shocking performance for Meager, who threw for just 108 yards in the season-opening loss to Oklahoma. Obviously Fitzgerald is the top target for North Texas, as the wideout comes into this contest with 25 receptions for 453 yards and three touchdowns.

It is on the defensive side of the field that UNT has been atrocious, as the Mean Green are surrendering a horrible 62.0 ppg and an astonishing 601.0 total ypg. In the 14-point setback to SMU, the Mean Green were abused for 181 rushing yards and on top of that, the unit was torched for 353 yards through the air. The defense did force two turnovers in the contest, but allowed the Mustangs to record 28 first downs and also allowed the opposition to convert on all five of its red zone chances. Aaron Weathers tallied a team-high seven tackles in the loss and now has a team-best 16 stops on the season.

The week of rest was definitely needed for North Texas, but it still will have trouble this week against FAU. The Owls are riding high off a huge win over Minnesota and should remain in the win column after this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Florida Atlantic 45, North Texas 41

09/19 10:56:31 ET