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The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 29th, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Razorback Stadium (72,000) -- Fayetteville, Arkansas. Television: Local. Home Record: North Texas 0-1, Arkansas 1-1. Away Record: North Texas 0-2, Arkansas 0-1. Neutral Record: North Texas 0-0, Arkansas 0-0. Conference Record: North Texas 0-1, Arkansas 0-2. Series Record: Arkansas leads, 8-0.

GAME NOTES: The Arkansas Razorbacks have not gotten off to the start that they envisioned, and they will take a break from the brutal SEC schedule to take on North Texas on Saturday. North Texas is still in search of its first victory under new head coach Todd Dodge. The Mean Green fell to 0-3 with a 30-20 home loss to Florida Atlantic last Saturday. Particularly frustrating is the fact that the club has held 14-point leads in each of the last two games but has been unable to hold on for victory. Arkansas beat Troy in non-conference action to open the season, but the Razorbacks have since suffered back-to-back losses, both to league foes. After suffering a three-point loss to Alabama, the Hogs were handed a 42-29 loss by Kentucky in front of the home crowd last weekend. The upcoming schedule is quite favorable, as Arkansas has a chance to turn things around in a hurry. Arkansas has won all eight series meetings with North Texas.

North Texas is scoring 20.3 ppg this season, a modest average by most standards. The running game has been non-existent, accounting for just 64.0 ypg and 2.4 ypc. Of the seven offensive touchdowns that the team has scored, only two have come on the ground. As for the passing attack, it is generating a staggering 378.0 ypg, but nine interceptions have clearly hurt the Mean Green. Daniel Meager has taken the majority of snaps for coach Dodge, and he has completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,010 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers are strong, but seven interceptions does raise concern. The best of the receivers has been Casey Fitzgerald, an undersized junior who has made 35 grabs for 542 yards and three touchdowns. Tailback Jamario Thomas, who led the nation in rushing as a freshman, is now a senior and needs more touches for this offense to be successful. Despite 466 total yards last weekend against Florida Atlantic, North Texas managed only 20 points. The most obvious reason is that the Mean Green suffered three interceptions.

The Mean Green have been one of the worst defensive teams in the nation thus far, as they are yielding 51.3 ppg and 536.0 total ypg. The run defense has been poor, surrendering 12 touchdowns and 5.0 ypc. Unfortunately, the pass defense has been equally as bad if not worse, as foes are racking up 359.3 ypg through the air while averaging 14.2 yards per connection. It is blatantly obvious that big plays can be made against this team. Aaron Weathers leads North Texas with 24 total tackles, but the Mean Green lack a major defensive playmaker. Last weekend, the club surrendered 406 yards and 30 points to Florida Atlantic. The Mean Green yielded 15.2 yards per pass completion, including a 74-yard touchdown pass that proved to be the difference.

The best football player in the nation plays for Arkansas, as tailback Darren McFadden is once against a major contender for the Heisman Trophy. McFadden leads the nation in rushing with 173.0 ypg and ranks third in all-purpose yards with 222.67 per game. He has run for four touchdowns and thrown one. McFadden's backup, Felix Jones, could start for almost any other team in the nation. He has rushed for 358 yards while averaging a staggering 8.9 ypc. A special teams phenom, Jones has also returned a pair of kickoffs for scores thus far. Through three outings, Arkansas is scoring 37.7 ppg while racking up 484.0 total ypg. The ground attack has been unstoppable as expected, accounting for 329.7 ypg and 6.4 ypc. Quarterback Casey Dick has completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes, and he is considered the weak link by most opponents. McFadden had a 56-yard touchdown run against Kentucky, and Jones returned a kickoff 82 yards for a score. Unfortunately, Dick threw a pair of interceptions that proved costly.

Arkansas is giving up 36.3 ppg and 420.3 total ypg, numbers that need to be improved in a hurry. The Razorbacks have yielded 13 touchdowns to opposing offenses in three games, and they have shown weakness against the run and the pass. Arkansas has posted seven takeaways, a strong number, but the club's total of four sacks needs to be improved. Weston Dacus leads the Razorbacks with 19 total tackles, while Matt Hewitt and Michael Grant are second with 17 stops apiece. Against Kentucky last weekend, Arkansas surrendered three touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the clash, ruining what had been a solid defensive performance up to that point.

There is no reason that this game should be close. Arkansas is clearly disappointed over the losses it has suffered, and the Razorbacks will likely take out their frustration on the Mean Green.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Arkansas 50, North Texas 13