FACTS & STATS: Site: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) -- Dallas, Texas. Television: CSBCSN. Home Record: TCU 2-0, SMU 1-0. Away Record: TCU 1-0, SMU 0-2. Neutral Record: 0-0, SMU 0-0. Conference Record: TCU 1-0, SMU 0-1. Series Record: TCU leads, 41-39-7.

GAME NOTES: The TCU Horned Frogs head to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. TCU has gotten off to a 3-0 start, although the team plays three of its next four on the road. Each of the last two times the Horned Frogs started out 3-0 (2003, 2006), they went on to win 11 games. On the other sideline, SMU limps into this game on the heels of last weekend's lopsided 43-7 loss at Texas Tech. Through three games, the Mustangs have generated more questions than answers, especially on defense. They let up 56 points at Rice in the season opener, and even allowed Texas State to rack up 36 points in week two. TCU holds a slim 41-39-7 edge in the all-time series, although the Mustangs snapped a six-game skid when they won the last meeting in 2005.

TCU was able to move the ball quite well in last weekend's 31-14 win over Stanford, despite 30 mph winds from Hurricane Ike. With the weather conditions less than ideal, Ryan Christian and quarterback Andy Dalton combined for 36 carries, 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Christian finished with a game- high 91 yards, and he scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter. Dalton, in addition to his 82 rushing yards, also completed 20-of-36 passes for 145 yards. The Horned Frogs were content to nickle and dime their way down the field, and the result was a 19-minute edge in time of possession.

Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson has to be quite happy with his defense after three games. This unit is yielding only eight points per game, and is holding the opposition to 1.7 yards per rush. They've clamped down against the pass, too, allowing only 130 ypg. Last weekend, the Horned Frogs held Stanford to just 10 first downs and 193 yards of total offense. And half of the Cardinal's points came on a blocked punt return. Jason Phillips led the TCU stand with 10 tackles, while Matt Panfil notched a pair of sacks and finished with four tackles for loss.

The Mustangs were simply no match for Texas Tech. Quite simply, if you can't score points, you can't hang with the Red Raiders and their wide open offense. SMU found that out the hard way, as the Mustangs tallied just 274 yards of total offense. Bo Levi Mitchell had about as bad a day as you can have at quarterback, tossing five interceptions. Head coach June Jones stood behind Mitchell at his weekly press conference, saying "He's got to learn how to play the game, and he's not going to learn standing (on the sidelines) by me." It will be interesting to see if Jones changes his stance if Mitchell doesn't make strides this week.

Defensively, the Mustangs struggled in both the run game and the pass game. When all was said and done, SMU allowed 513 yards and five TDs through the air, and another 180 yards (6.7 ypc) and a TD on the ground. Texas Tech rolled up 33 first downs and outgained SMU by more than 400 yards. Much of the problem can be credited to a lack of pressure on Red Raider quarterback Graham Harrell, who was hurried only once and certainly took advantage of all the time he was given to throw. The fact of the matter is, SMU's defense has been exploited in each game this season. The Mustangs enter this contest ranked 117th in the nation in total defense, and 115th in scoring defense.

Coach Jones said this week that he wasn't so sure TCU is not the best team SMU will have faced so far. If that's the case, the Mustangs are in for a long day. The defense needs to be able to get off the field for this game to even be competitive.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: TCU 49, SMU 14

Saturday, September 20th, 8:00 p.m. (et).