| Weather<\/td> | Clear with Temps in the Mid 60s<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n2023 Results and Betting Trends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nNevada went 2-10 straight-up, 6-6 against the spread last season. The Wolf Pack closed as a double-digit underdog eight times last year and went 5-3 against the spread in that role. SMU was 11-3 straight-up, 8-6 against the spread last season. The Mustangs were a double-digit favorite ten times in 2023, and went 7-3 against the spread in that role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n SMU Mustangs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s start in Dallas where the Mustangs are looking to make a big splash in the ACC. Just how serious is SMU treating this move to a Power Four conference? The Mustangs will not receive television money from the ACC for the next nine years. Not only did SMU have to pay a $10 million exit fee to the AAC, the Mustangs will essentially become a self-sufficient athletic program for the next decade, relying on hundreds of millions of dollars from boosters to fund its teams instead of media rights money from the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n SMU's splash on the national scene began four years ago when blue-chip quarterback Preston Stone chose the Mustangs over Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State and a slew of others. Stone led the AAC in passing efficiency last season, but a broken leg ended his campaign in late-November. Stone will have plenty of familiar faces to work with this season as the Mustangs return 76-percent of their production from last season, ranking top-20 in the country in returning production on both offense and defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Nevada Wolf Pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nIn Reno, former Texas defensive coordinator Jeff Choate gets his first shot at leading an FBS program. Known as a defensive mind, summer camp reports suggest that the Wolf Pack offense is a little farther along than Choate\u2019s defense. Nevada returns 64-percent of its offensive production from last year (top-60 in the country). It's certainly fair to question, \"How many players do you really want to return from a 2-10 football team?\" but nonetheless, they have a baseline to work with. Quarterback Brendon Lewis will get the nod after starting ten games last season. Offensive coordinator Matt Lubick has provided inspiration to the team as he continues to coach while currently battling leukemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n From a philosophy and regime standpoint, there's reason for optimism in Reno. Choate led some very good Montana State teams in the late 2010s. Lubick has been a part of some great programs in recent years, and has helped lead Kansas\u2019 offensive resurgence over the last couple seasons. There is reason to believe that better days are ahead in Reno. But in Week 0 of the 2024 college football season, Nevada has one of the worst rosters in the country. The Wolf Pack have gone 2-10 in back-to-back seasons, and a lot of those players are still in the program. 247Sports ranks Nevada\u2019s class of incoming freshman and transfers outside the top-90 in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Nevada vs SMU Prediction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nWith a healthy Stone at quarterback last season, SMU scored 55 points on its own four times in 12 games. Any help that Nevada can give us on the scoreboard is a welcomed bonus because the Mustangs can probably flirt with this total on their own. A first-year coach in his first game usually means that the team will give him a good effort for 60 minutes. Expect the Wolf Pack to make a small contribution to the final tally. Recommended Play<\/strong>: Over 56 Points<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n |
![\"SMU](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/GcyfNE-JvsM\/maxresdefault.jpg\")