TUDOR'S TAKE
SMU (6-5, 5-2 Conference USA) arrives in Greenville squarely in the chase for the league championship that East Carolina (6-5, 5-2) won in 2009 and 2008. After last week's staggering loss at Rice, confidence could be a problem for ECU. Plus, the students are on holiday break. SMU, 56-42.
OBSERVATIONS
ON THE RUN
With 759 yards rushing and a likely bowl game ahead, ECU senior Jonathan Williams has an outside chance to reach 1,000 yards. The former Greenville Rose High star also has 431 yards receiving.
THE JONES TOUCH
Nearing the end of his second season at SMU, coach June Jones has turned the program around quicker than almost anyone expected when he left Hawaii following a 12-1 record in 2007. The Mustangs went 8-5 a year ago and routed Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl. A win today would send them to next week's league title game against Central Florida.
PLAYER TO WATCH
ZACH LINE
SMU, running back, 6 feet 1, 235 pounds, sophomore
After rushing for 202 yards in last week's 31-17 win over Marshall, the bullish Michigan native is up to 1,174 yards for the season and averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The Pirates have one of the weakest run defenses in the nation.
BY THE NUMBERS
SMUECU
26.7scoring38.2
26.2scoring defense43.3
146.9avg. rush yards125.1
140.5opp. avg. rush yards230.1
273.5avg. pass yards319.8
218.4opp. avg. pass yards251.4
Get the biggest news in your email or cellphone as it's happening. Sign up for breaking news alerts.
Dan Wheldon couldn't win his third Indianapolis 500. Dario Franchitti did it for him. 
This must be Kasey Kahne, Version 2.0. Kahne, who at one point early in the season was in danger of falling out of the Top 25 in owners points and losing his guaranteed starting position each week, extended his career-best Top 10 streak with a victory in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 
The Carolina Hurricanes did not win the Stanley Cup in 2002. That would come later. But what the Canes did win a decade ago perhaps was just as precious and hard-earned: acceptance. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to Sports - it's free!
Subscribe to Hurricanes - it's free!
Subscribe to College Sports - it's free!
Subscribe to Duke - it's free!
Subscribe to ECU - it's free!
Subscribe to NCSU - it's free!
Subscribe to UNC - it's free!
Subscribe to Wake Forest - it's free!
Subscribe to Preps - it's free!
