DFW college football teams are on the road this week

by Todd E. Jones of College Football Top Ten

The DFW college football teams head on the road in week five of the 2008 season. The Southern Methodist University Mustangs travel to New Orleans to play the Tulane University Green Wave on Thursday night in a Conference USA football game. The University of North Texas Mean Green will try to get their first win of the season as they travel to Houston to take on the Rice University Owls, and, in Norman, OK, the TCU Horned Frogs will take on the number two ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a battle of regional powers.

SMU

The Mustangs will try to bounce back from their 48-7 loss to TCU against Conference USA opponent Tulane. Although Tulane is 1-2 on the season, their losses were to teams ranked in the top 15. Last week the Green Wave broke in to the win column with a 24-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Both Tulane and SMU come in to this weeks conference game with an 0-1 record making this game critical to each team to avoid going 0-2 in conference play. The Green Wave is averaging 246 yards passing and 114 yards rushing per game. The Mustangs will need a strong performance from its offense to overcome a defense giving up 45 points per game.

UNT

The Mean Green enjoyed a week off after their loss to LSU, and they are looking to get in to the win column for the first time in 2008. The Screaming Eagles will travel to Houston to take on the Rice University Owls. The Owls are coming off a 52-10 loss to Texas and a September 13th loss to Vanderbilt. However, they own wins over Memphis and SMU this year giving them a 2-0 record in Conference USA. UNT is hoping that its tough opening schedule against three very good teams will translate into a much improved team the rest of the season.

TCU

When the Horned Frogs take on Oklahoma this Saturday at Memorial Stadium, it will be one their biggest games in several years. Just like last year's showdown with Texas in Austin, both teams will be ranked. The Frogs debuted in the polls this week at number 23. However, Oklahoma has been ranked all year, and they come in to the game ranked number 2 in the nation. Oklahoma has multiple weapons on offense, but quarterback Sam Bradford makes it all go. He is one of the most efficient passers in the country. It will be up the Sooner defense to keep TCU's offense off the field so that its offense can score points. TCU's offense averages 37 minutes and 13 seconds time of possession. The Horned Frogs will have to get great line play on both sides of the ball, but the defensive line will be key. If the Frogs can disrupt action in Oklahoma's backfield with their front four, that will allow TCU's linebackers to make plays on the football. This is a big challenge for TCU's Cody More, James Vess, Matt Panfil and Jerry Hughes.

TV and Radio

As always you can catch each team's game on the radio. The Mustangs game will be broadcast live on The Ticket . Fans wanting to listen to the UNT football game can catch the action on the Mean Green Sports Network including The Word FM and KNTU. TCU fans can catch the Horned Frogs on the TCU/ISP Network featuring ESPN Radio 103.3 FM . The Frogs' game with Oklahoma will also be televised on the Fox Sports Network, and the Mustang game will be televised on CBS College Sports Network.