FAU can become bowl eligible with road win at North Texas
Florida Atlantic at North Texas was suppose to be Conference USA‘s big showdown.
Now, it’s just another game on the schedule.
In the preseason, media ‘experts’ tabbed FAU and North Texas as the teams to beat in their respective conference divisions.
Neither has a chance to repeat as division champ, as both are 3-3 in conference play.
North Texas, with seven wins overall, is assured of a bowl bid.
Florida Atlantic still needs one more victory to get to bowl eligible. If the Owls can’t pull off the road win Thursday, they have another chance to get there with a season-ending home game against a 4-6 Charlotte team.
FAU may be hitting its stride, if its play in wins over Florida International (49-14) and Western Kentucky (34-15) are any indication.
Last Saturday’s victory at home over Western Kentucky saw Devin Singletary score two touchdowns and gain 148 yards to become the first FAU running back to go over 4,000 career yards. Singletary, who was named a Doak Walker semifinalist this week, got a big helping hand in the Owls’ latest win from junior running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. – 163 yards on 21 carries and two more TD runs.
North Texas is coming off a gut-wrenching, last-minute 34-31 loss at Old Dominion (at team FAU beat 52-33), as it owned a 28-point first-half cushion.
North Texas is a pass-first team, and has a good quarterback in senior Mason Fine. In the loss to Old Dominion, Fine became North Texas’ career leader in total passing yards with a total of 8,743. Junior wide receiver Rico Bussey Jr. is North Texas’ top receiver with 61 catches for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With Fine at quarterback, FAU’s defensive secondary – ranked 84th out of 129 Division I teams – will need a big effort. The Owls give up 244.7 passing yards per game. FAU is allowing 173.9 yards (ranked 77th overall) rushing per game.
Fine has thrown only two interceptions all season in 388 attempts.
“He went 300 passes between interceptions and he had only thrown one interception,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said earlier this week. “(Fine) threw one (Saturday) for the second of the year, so that is pretty remarkable.”
Florida Atlantic is expected to use both Chris Robison (158 of 247 for 1966 yards, 8 TDs, 10 interceptions) and Deandre Johnson (10 of 17, 129 yards, 2 TDs, 1 interception) at quarterback against North Texas.
GAME CAPSULE
WHO: Florida Atlantic (5-5, 4-3) at North Texas (7-3, 3-3)
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Thursday
WHERE/TV/RADIO: Apogee Stadium – Denton, TX; CBS Sports Network/ESPN 106.3 FM
LINE: North Texas is a 3.5 point favorite
DID YOU KNOW: Florida Atlantic has two players that wear No. 7 – and both play a big role in the Owls’ success. Junior linebacker Rashad Smith is the leader on defense, with 82 tackles and three interceptions – both team highs. Junior wide receiver Jovon Durante is FAU’s top receiver with 58 cathces for 772 yards and 4 TDs.
PHOTOS contributed by: Bob Markey / www.MarkeySportsPhoto.com Courtesy of www.FAUOwlsNest.com
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