SO. METHODIST (7-5) VS. LOUISIANA TECH (6-6)
Site: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Wednesday. TV: ESPN.
Line: SMU by 4 ½.
All-time series: Louisiana Tech leads 3-1.
Last meeting: Louisiana Tech 41, SMU 10 (2004).
SOUTHERN METHODIST
Coach: Sonny Dykes (SMU debut, previously 41-45 in 7 seasons at La. Tech & Cal).
All-time postseason: 7-7-1.
Last postseason appearance: Beat Fresno State 43-10 in 2012 Hawaii Bowl.
Draft spotlight: WR Courtland Sutton. No.1 among WR prospects, Sutton amassed 1,017 yards on just 62 catches in 2017, with six outings over 100 yards. The redshirt junior began his SMU career as a safety, but that idea disappeared when the coaching staff recognized a rare combination of traits that could be used on offense. Read full report here.
Other Mustangs to watch: *WR Trey Quinn, C Evan Brown, DE Justin Lawler, *CB Jordan Wyatt.
Mustang Tracks: Dykes, who spent 2017 as a TCU offensive consultant, steps right in after Chad Morris left for Arkansas. He’ll work with Morris’ playbook here before installing his own in the spring. … The Mustangs shattered school records for both points (482) and TDs (63). … Lawler has three blocked kicks this year.
LOUISIANA TECH
Coach: Skip Holtz (5th season, 37-28; overall 13th season, 91-76).
All-time postseason: 5-3-1.
Last postseason appearance: Beat Navy 48-45 in 2016 Armed Forces Bowl.
Draft spotlight: FS Secdrick Cooper. Ranked 10th among FS prospects, Cooper’s 63 tackles this year were second on the Bulldogs. He also has two INTs – both against South Alabama – along with a fumble recovery and blocked kick. The Bulldogs have sent a DB to the NFL in each of the past two seasons (Kentrell Brice, Xavier Woods).
Other Bulldogs to watch: RB Boston Scott, RB Jarred Craft, OT Joshua Outlaw, *DE Jaylon Ferguson.
Bulldog Snaps: It’s the fourth straight bowl trip for Louisiana Tech, having won each of the previous three. Two of those also were in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex – last year’s Armed Forced Bowl and the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. … The Bulldogs have been involved in four one-point games in 2017 – losing three – along with a double-OT loss to Southern Miss.
* underclass draft prospect