PonyFans.com preview: FRESNO STATE

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The SMU football team travels west this week to take on Fresno State in a 9:30 p.m. game that can be heard locally on KTCK (1310-AM) and seen live on Fox Sports Southwest.

The 3-3 Bulldogs have been inconsistent this year, at least in relation to their perceived talent level. They lost close games at Wisconsin in the opener, 23-21, and at Oregon, 28-24, but also got pounded, 59-19, at Oregon State. Their wins also were inconsistent: close (16-14) wins over San Diego State at home and over Rice (31-28) in Houston before upsetting No. 22 Colorado State, 32-30, Friday in Fresno.

At first glance, the biggest difference between this year's FSU team and last year's Bulldogs is the absence of David Carr, last year's star QB who became the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the expension Houston Texans. The FSU offense now is led by QB Paul Pinegar, a 6-4, 214-pound redshirt freshman with an extremely strong arm who has completed 86-of-146 passes (58.9 percent) for 1,035 yards, 3 interceptions and 8 touchdowns. His favorite targets include WR Marque Davis (6-0, 185), who has 23 catches for 310 yards (13.5 yards per catch) and a score and redshirt freshman WR Adam Jennings (5-10, 165), who has 20 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown of his own. Junior WR Deandre Gilbert (6-0, 170) has just 10 catches this year for 108 yards, but he has reached the end zone a team-high four times. H-back Alec Greco has a pair of touchdown receptions among his 11 catches.

Leading the FSU ground game is junior RB Rodney Davis (5-8, 210), who has 500 yards on 102 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and two scores. Redshirt freshman RB Bryson Sumlin has 19 carries for 69 yards and the Bulldogs' other rushing touchdown.

One of the stronger kickers in the Western Athletic Conference, FSU's Asen Asparuhov has connected on 12-of-16 field goals this year, including a long of 52 yards.

The rest of the Bulldogs' special teams are very effective. Against Colorado State last week, FSU scored when Adam Jennings returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown, got a safety on another CSU punt attempt and got a crucial blocked field goal from Rodney Michael.

Strong safety Cameron Worrell leads the team with 48 tackles through six games, and has a team-leading three interceptions. Safety James Sanders is second on the team with 42 tackles, followed by a third safety, Bryce McGill, who has 38. Senior DE Nick Burley (6-4, 250) leads the FSU defensive line with 34 tackles, and has a team-high 4 sacks. McGill and nosetackle Jason Stewart have three sacks apiece.

Overall, the 'Dogs have been outscored this year, 182-143. Opponents have picked up 137 first downs through six games, compared to 106 for FSU. The team's defensive liability should be an area that SMU can attack: Fresno State has surrendered 200.8 yards per game on the ground thus far this season. But while their defense might surrender yards, it also is an opportunistic unit, recovering 8-of-10 fumbles coughed up this year by opponents and picking off five passes. And if SMU can stay close in the first half, the Ponies should have a chance: Fresno State has been outscored, 103-51, in the second half this season.