I swapped a few questions with Ted Hutton, who covers FAU for the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Here's what he had to say about the UNT-FAU game on Saturday.

1. FAU was expected to contend for the conference title this season. Why are the Owls off to such a slow start?

That is the question players, coaches and fans are asking. It is a repeat of 2007, when they were expected to repeat as Belt champs but started 1-5 and 0-2 in the conference. They said they had learned from that and it wouldn't happen again, but it has.

Starting 0-2 against Nebraska and South Carolina was expected, but they then lost winnable games at home by two points -- 27-25 to ULM and 30-28 to Wyoming. FAU had better talent on the field in both those games, but mistakes on offense and defensive lapses cost them.

2. Rusty Smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Is he due for a breakout game against UNT?

Well, everyone is waiting for him to have that game, and his stats are much better when FAU plays at its own level, but Smith has not been the same since 2007. It's not all on him, but with nine seniors and eight returning starters, FAU's offense is not coming close to playing to its potential. They are underachieving in a big way.

3. UNT is one of the better defenses in the league against the pass. Do you expect FAU to be able to throw it on UNT effectively?

Yes. Tight end Jason Harmon is rounding back into form after missing all of 2008 recovering from knee surgery. Cortez Gent is back after being suspended for two games. Chris Bonner can get deep, and Lester Jean did well in place of Gent. The line is giving Smith time. FAU's problem is getting into the end zone. They will move the ball.

4. Why is FAU struggling so much defensively this season?

Only three starters returning, and very limited experience among the eight new starters. They are athletic, but they are still learning how to play games, and it has showed. After two terrible games to start the season, they have played well in stretches of the last two, but still aren't consistent enough to play winning ball.

5. Will the return of Cortez Gent, who now has a game under his belt this season, make a big difference?

It makes a big difference. Gent is Smith's go-to receiver. He had some big catches against Wyoming and will be someone North Texas has to keep an eye on.

6. Howard Schnellenberger absolutely owns UNT. What do you think that is?

This is like FAU and ULM, where the home team has lost every game. Just weird. It's not like Howard circles this game on his calender and spends extra time plotting how to vanquish the Mean Green.

The biggest win was the first one, when FAU was in its fourth year of existence and making the start of its transition to I-A and they beat North Texas, which then went on to win all seven of its Sun Belt games to take another conference title.

In 2005 FAU was a bunch of freshmen and sophomores and finished 2-9 but somehow beat NT and ULL.

In 2006 FAU was getting better, and 2007 they were on their way to the Belt title. Last year NT came to town when FAU was in the midst of its 5-1 second half run after they started the season 1-5.

7. Does Alfred Morris give FAU the running threat to complement Rusty Smith?

Morris is the real deal. I expect him to have=2 0a breakout game before Smith does. He is FAU's first complete runner, and Patrick Cobbs type guy, who doesn't go down with the first hit and is deceptivley quick and shifty. Should be fun watching him and Dunbar.