DMN (AP) game preview
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:18 pmWhat is up with us getting confused with Baylor?
Associated Press
SMU (2-2, 1-0 C-USA) vs. Rice (1-3, 0-0), 6 p.m. CDT Saturday (not televised)
Line: SMU by 12 1/2.
Series Record: Baylor leads 46-40-1.
Last Meeting: 2009, SMU 31-28.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
SMU is looking to build on its 1-0 start in Conference-USA play and the Owls are looking to bounce back from last week's 30-13 loss to Baylor in their first conference game. The Mustangs lost to No. 4 TCU 41-24 last week after leading in the third quarter.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Kyle Padron against Rice's passing defense. Rice is giving up almost 261 yards passing a game which ranks 101st in the nation and Padron is averaging more than 200 yards passing. Padron has thrown 10 touchdowns with four interceptions this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SMU: RB Zach Line. The sophomore is averaging 7.8 yards a carry and has 415 yards rushing with four touchdowns this season. He's also a threat on short passes out of the backfield and has eight receptions for 74 yards.
Rice: RB Sam McGuffie. McGuffie is in his first season at Rice after sitting out a year following a transfer from Michigan. McGuffie has 48 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown and 19 receptions for 165 yards and another score. Rice coach David Bailiff said he will work to get McGuffie more involved in the offense each week.
FACTS AND FIGURES
This will be the 22nd straight year that these teams have met, which is the longest active streak for any Rice opponent. ... The Owls have a 10-game home winning streak against SMU with the Mustangs last winning in Houston in 1986. ... Darius Johnson leads SMU in receiving with 20 Receptions for 202 yards and three touchdowns. ... Rice is the last C-USA West division team to begin conference play. ... The Owls have scored a touchdown in 68 straight games. ... SMU linebacker Pete Fleps leads the team with 35 tackles.
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