The Edge

Passing offense
TCU
Senior Sean Stilley has thrown for 257.7 yards a game and is 12th in the country in pass efficiency rating. Senior LaTarence Dunbar might be one of the best deep threats in college football, while senior Adrian Madise is a great counterpart and creates mismatches in opposing secondaries.

North Texas
Junior starting quarterback Scott Hall has a torn pectoral muscle, and redshirt freshman Andrew Smith will start for the third consecutive game. Either way it is of little circumstance to North Texas, who is 116th in the nation in total passing offense.

Edge: TCU

Rushing offense
TCU
The Frogs average just 3 yards a carry, and might employ a running back by committee approach as no one halfback has asserted himself as the starter. TCU must find a way to break more runs into the secondary. The longest run of the year was for just 27 yards.

North Texas
Senior Kevin Galbreath has amassed 190 yards on the ground, though his stats are misleading because he picked up 144 of them against I-AA Nicholls State. Sophomore backup Patrick Cobbs rushed for 76 yards total against Texas and Alabama.

Edge: Even

Passing defense
TCU
The Frog secondary has held opponents to just 185.7 yards passing a game, and will be bolstered by sophomore Marvin Godbolt’s return after an ankle injury.

North Texas
Sophomore safety Jonas Buckles was a first team all Sun Belt Conference selection in 2001. The secondary has held opponents to just 137 passing yards a game.

Edge: TCU

Rushing defense
TCU
The Frogs have forced eight fumbles this season in three games, and have limited ball carriers to just 2.8 yards a carry.

North Texas
They held Texas to a minuscule 28 yards on 35 carries. However, Alabama ran them ragged, amassing 58 carries for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Junior defensive tackle Brandon Kennedy and sophomore defensive end Adrian Awasom look to disrupt TCU’s running game. Junior linebacker Cody Spencer will not play due to an elbow injury.

Edge: TCU

Special teams
TCU
Leading a predominantly rushing team that is a heavy underdog, North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey likely will turn this into a field position battle. Senior punter Joey Biasatti is terrific at preventing returns and pinning teams inside their own 20-yard line.

North Texas
Sophomore Brad Kadlubar is a liability at punter with just a 30.9 net punt average. True freshman Nick Bazaldua is the place-kicker. He is one of two on field goals and three of four on extra points. The team only has three kick returns over 20 yards all year.

Edge: TCU

Intangibles
TCU
It is important for TCU to have a strong showing heading in to their bye week. This is their last non-conference game, meaning the schedule will only become more difficult.

North Texas
The Mean Green have only been in Division I-A since 1995, and a win against TCU might earn them respect.
Edge: TCU

Prediction: TCU 24, North Texas 7

— Jay Zuckerman