Texas A&M @ Southern Methodist preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2011 ) Southern Methodist 14, Texas A&M 46

Texas A&M didn’t get a tune-up game before playing its first Southeastern Conference contest against Florida and lost a double-digit lead to the Gators - something that happened to the Aggies five times last year. The Aggies will get the chance to correct those problems - which first-year coach Kevin Sumlin called the elephant in the room – during a visit to Southern Methodist on Saturday. Texas A&M has dominated the series recently but SMU is confident after forcing a school-record 10 turnovers in a 52-0 rout of FCS school Stephen F. Austin. The former Southwest Conference foes will meet on SMU’s campus for the first time since 1990.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: Texas A&M -13

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (0-1): The Aggies were pleased with the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel and the defensive line, but struggled to close out last Saturday’s game, seeing a 17-10 halftime lead turn into a 20-17 loss. Manziel completed 23 of 30 passes for 173 yards in his first start and rushed for 60 yards and a score on 17 carries. Most importantly, he didn’t have a turnover. Running backs Christine Michael, Ben Malena and Trey Williams combined for 74 yards on 21 carries, and the Aggies plan to continue dividing carries between them. Junior defensive end Damontre Moore had three of the team’s eight sacks against Florida while the defense held the Gators to less than three yards per carry.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (1-1): The Mustangs’ offense begins with senior running back Zach Line, Conference USA’s leading rusher the past two seasons. Line had 135 yards in a 59-24, season-opening loss to Baylor and rushed for two scores against Stephen F. Austin. He is fourth among active FBS players in career rushing yards (3,102) and third in career touchdowns (36). The Mustangs' offense, led by former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, expects to get top receiver Darius Johnson and linemen Ben Gottschalk and Jordan Free back this week after the three missed Saturday’s game with injuries. Junior defensive back Kenneth Acker was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions and scoring twice, one off a pick and one off a blocked field goal. The Mustangs blocked two field goals, including senior end Margus Hunt’s NCAA-record ninth career FG block.

EXTRA POINTS

1. First-year Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin was 4-0 against SMU as Houston coach.

2. The Aggies are 10-0-1 against SMU since 1985, including last year’s 46-14 victory at Kyle Field.

3. Southern Methodist is 15-5 at home since the start of the 2009 season.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 34, SMU 17