October 6, 2017

By Dylan Edwards, SMUMustangs.com

For the first time this football season, SMU is traveling beyond the metroplex for a football game. The Mustangs head south for a conference showdown with Houston on Saturday. SMU is looking for a 5-1 start overall and a 2-0 start in conference play when they face off with the Cougars.

Last season, the Mustangs and head coach Chad Morris knocked off Houston to give Morris his first real signature win as a head coach against a ranked opponent. 

This year's SMU team has proven through the first five games that they are mentally strong and have playmakers aplenty. Last week against UConn, the Mustangs responded in the fourth quarter to blow past the Huskies. SMU will look to carry that level of play late in the game to Houston on Saturday.

When SMU has the ball…

No offense has been as dynamic as the Mustangs this season. SMU is the only team in the county to score more than 35 points in all five games this season. It's obvious as to why SMU has had so much success on the offensive side of the ball. The Mustangs are loaded with tools for quarterback Ben Hicks. The three-deep rotation at running back can wear opponents down. The wide receiver room has so many playmakers that it's nearly impossible to guard them all. Defenses can take something away, but the Mustangs strength comes with the offense's depth across the board. Someone else is always there to step up and make a play.

The Mustangs rank third nationally in scoring, but they'll face a difficult challenge in the Houston defense. The Cougars allow fewer than 15 points per game, ranking 14th nationally. While SMU has scored 30 offensive touchdowns this season, Houston has only allowed five.

SMU averages nearly 500 yards of offense a game with that balanced attack (300 passing yards, 200 rushing yards). Houston's defense has been very solid against the pass this year, allowing opponents to just over 200 yards in the air. Opponents have been able to have a little more success on the ground, running for 155 yards with an average carry of 4.3 yards. 

Houston's defense is led by defensive tackle Ed Oliver. He's as disruptive as they come in the middle, but he's a game-time decision on Saturday. 

When Houston has the ball…

SMU's run defense has been a strength of the team, showcased by the negative rushing yards UConn was held to last week. The Mustangs rank near the top-20 nationally in rushing yards allowed. Houston isn't a team that rushes with great frequency, ranking 96th nationally in rushes per game.

The Cougars have a potent passing game though, so SMU's secondary will be needed on Saturday. Houston completes nearly 30 passes a game, one of the highest marks in the country. The offense moves with short completions to stay ahead of the chains, hence the unit holding the fourth-best completion percentage in the nation. 

The battle upfront on those passing plays will be fascinating. Houston's offensive line has allowed just four sacks this season while SMU leads the nation in sacks with 21. The Mustangs notched eight sacks last week alone.

The regional showdown kicks off at 6 p.m and will be broadcast by CBS Sports Network.