SMU (6-4, 5-1) at Marshall (5-5, 3-3)
4:30 p.m., Joan C. Edwards Stadium
(38,019, FieldTurf), Huntington
TV: none.
Line: Marshall by 3.
Series: Tied 1-1.
Last game: SMU 31, Marshall 21, Oct. 14, 2006 at Dallas.
Tickets: Plenty available, $22-32.
Weather: Clear during the day but turning cloudy into the night, 58 degrees at kickoff.
On the spot
Craig Ratanamorn, Marshall placekicker: He admitted his kickoffs weren't as good as they should be last week, perhaps contributing to two long returns by Southern Mississippi's Tracy Lampley. With SMU's Bryan McCann averaging 24 yards a return, Ratanamorn needs the best distance and hang time possible. But the spotlight will really shine on him when he lines up for a field goal or extra point, as 6-foot-8 Estonian Margus Hunt has blocked a ridiculous four field goals and three point-after kicks. Ratanamorn must get the ball up, and do so quickly.
Kyle Padron, SMU quarterback: The true freshman has shown poise in winning three straight starts, including a road game against Tulsa. But this is his longest road trip and perhaps his most difficult atmosphere, even if Edwards Stadium won't be close to full. Even Case Keenum, Conference USA's most prolific quarterback since realignment, struggled here, and Texas teams are winless all-time at Huntington.
Stats 'n' such
SMU (6-4, 5-1) at Marshall (5-5, 3-3)
4:30 p.m., Joan C. Edwards Stadium
(38,019, FieldTurf), Huntington
TV: none.
Line: Marshall by 3.
Series: Tied 1-1.
Last game: SMU 31, Marshall 21, Oct. 14, 2006 at Dallas.
Tickets: Plenty available, $22-32.
Weather: Clear during the day but turning cloudy into the night, 58 degrees at kickoff.
On the spot
Craig Ratanamorn, Marshall placekicker: He admitted his kickoffs weren't as good as they should be last week, perhaps contributing to two long returns by Southern Mississippi's Tracy Lampley. With SMU's Bryan McCann averaging 24 yards a return, Ratanamorn needs the best distance and hang time possible. But the spotlight will really shine on him when he lines up for a field goal or extra point, as 6-foot-8 Estonian Margus Hunt has blocked a ridiculous four field goals and three point-after kicks. Ratanamorn must get the ball up, and do so quickly.
Kyle Padron, SMU quarterback: The true freshman has shown poise in winning three straight starts, including a road game against Tulsa. But this is his longest road trip and perhaps his most difficult atmosphere, even if Edwards Stadium won't be close to full. Even Case Keenum, Conference USA's most prolific quarterback since realignment, struggled here, and Texas teams are winless all-time at Huntington.
Stats 'n' such
In the stat rankings: MU's Darius Marshall remains second in Conference USA in rushing (1,054 yards in 9 games) and is third in scoring (66 points) and all-purpose yardage (172.6 average). Ratanamorn remains the "most perfect" kicker in field goals in America, hitting all 13 attempts. SMU's Emmanuel Sanders is second in receptions (77) and receiving yardage (977).
Team-wise, MU leads the conference in fewest first downs allowed (19.1 per game) and time of possession (31:33) and is second in scoring defense (21.6) and pass defense efficiency rating (120.1). The Herd ranks last in first downs (17.8) and 11th in kickoff returns (19.9). SMU leads in pass defense efficiency (116.0), interceptions (16) and punt returns (15.1) and is second in passing yardage (271.7) and time of possession (31:23). But the Mustangs are 11th in rushing (106.6), net punting (36.6), sacks against (27) and penalties (72.2), and last in third-down conversions (28.1 percent)
Milestones: MU's Marshall has 2,780 career rushing yards, 120 behind No. 6 John Zontini and 202 behind No. 5 Ahmad Bradshaw, the top rusher of the Herd's Division I-A era. Albert McClellan remains sixth in sacks with 21, two behind John Duncan and Cecil Fletcher. SMU's Sanders leads all active NCAA receivers in career touchdown catches (32) and is fourth in receptions (263) and yards (3,429).
Quote
"They want to win yesterday. I don't blame them; I am just like them. But you have to build. You have to do things the way they have to be done to sustain success for years to come. Unfortunately, the sustaining has been on the bottom of the ledger, as opposed to the top of the ledger. But we are right there." - Marshall coach Mark Snyder
Over-unders
325 Passing yards for either SMU's Padron or MU's Brian Anderson, if Darius Marshall does not play or is limited.
2 Interceptions. One team will do it - will it be the Mustangs, who have a league-high 16, or will it be the Herd, which is riding a four-game pick-less streak?
18,000 Today's attendance. MU officials dangled several ticket specials in front of the public and its faculty and staff, and good weather could help the walk-up. On the other hand, the campus emptied out for the Thanksgiving holiday so there would be plenty of elbow room in the student section.
Completely useless trivia
The Mustangs last started 5-1 in their conference in 1983, way back when the Southwest Conference still existed and SMU played home games at Texas Stadium. But that did NOT happen in the Eric Dickerson/Craig James era - the "Pony Express" duo rode the prairie from 1979-82. Jeff Atkins began his 3,260-yard rushing career in '83, and Reggie Dupard led the team with 1,249 yards on the ground. The Mustangs finished 10-2, losing only to Texas and to Alabama in the Sun Bowl.
Next
The Herd wraps up the regular season with its second rendition of the longest in-conference road trip, the journey to Texas-El Paso. The locally televised game from the Mountain Time Zone kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern. If SMU wins today, it needs only to beat Tulane at home to win the West Division.
- By Doug Smock
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