SMU Mustangs vs Nevada Wolf Pack Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 08/24/2024

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Saturday, August 24, 2024

Venue:  Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV

Where to Watch:  CBS Sports

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  SMU -25, Nevada +25; Over/Under:  56 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  SMU -24.5, Nevada +24.5; Over/Under:  56.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  SMU -24.5, Nevada +24.5; Over/Under:  56.5 points

SMU Mustangs:  0-0 (0-0) (ACC)

Nevada Wolf Pack:  0-0 (0-0) (MWC)

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SMU Mustangs:  N/A

Nevada Wolf Pack:  N/A

SMU finished last season with an 11-3 record overall and they had an 8-0 record in their conference games too.  They were 6-0 in their home games, 5-2 in their road games, and they were also 0-1 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 38.7 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 17.8 points per game. Their offense also averaged 454.3 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 304.1 yards per game. Preston Stone led the team in passing yards with 3197, Jaylan Knighton led the team in rushing yards with 745, and Jake Bailey led the team in receiving yards with 528.

 

 

 

Nevada finished last season with a 2-10 record overall and they had a 2-6 record in their conference games too.  They were 1-5 in their home games, 1-5 in their road games, and they were also 0-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 17.3 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 33.4 points per game. Their offense also averaged 300 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 441.8 yards per game. Brendon Lewis led the team in passing yards with 1313, Sean Dollars led the team in rushing yards with 527, and Dalevon Campbell led the team in receiving yards with 594.

The current betting odds have Nevada listed as a 25 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Nevada was terrible last season, going 2-10 overall, but they will be looking to improve this season starting with this 1st game. They did bring in a new head coach to lead them this season, but with a program that went just 2-10 last season and has been terrible in the Mountain West Conference for years, he has a lot of work to do here. The team is going to be motivated with their new head coach though and they will put the work in to try and make a statement in this game. SMU was great last season with their 11-3 record overall, going undefeated in the AAC and winning the Conference Title, but now they are going to be in a new conference this season. This will be their 1st game as a team in the ACC and they will be looking to impress here, but there could also be some pressure to perform now that they are in a bigger conference. SMU does have the better team here and will be trying to get off to a strong start in this game so Nevada is going to struggle a lot early on, but they will get their feet planted by the 2nd half since they are at home for this one, and this is still a really big number that could see Nevada cover with the backdoor if SMU takes their foot off the gas and starts resting players late in this game. Nevada has players that are looking to impress the new head coach while SMU is using this game more as a warm up so expect Nevada to fight in this game right to the end, giving them a better chance to cover here. The best way to place a bet here is on Nevada to cover the spread in this game. 

SMU Nevada Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, August 24, 2024 (8:00 pm ET start time) is SMU 41 Nevada 17.

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SMU Mustangs: 10-3 ATS in the 1st quarter in their last 13 games. 10-0 (+10.05 units) on the first half moneyline in their last 10 games. 9-1 to the 1st quarter over in their last 10 games. 

Nevada Wolf Pack: 1-3 ATS in the 1st quarter in their last 4 home games. 2-10 (-6.20 units) on the moneyline in their last 12 games. 3-0 to the over in their last 3 games. 

SMU Mustangs:  None.

Nevada Wolf Pack:  None.

“We have a new challenge in front of us, and we haven’t done anything. In a good way, yeah, it feels different, but not like everybody is kind of tight. We’re going to find out where we stand. We don’t know. I like our guys, and I’m excited to watch them get to compete with this schedule.” - Rhett Lashlee on his team being in the ACC this season.

"When the opportunity to add an extra home game and especially beginning our ‘RenoVation 2024’ at Mackay Stadium came up, we jumped on it. Having a Power-4, ACC opponent in SMU coming to Reno this season, there is no reason to not have Mackay Stadium packed. This is the start of our ‘Drive for 25' — we need at least 25,000 Wolf Pack fans loudly behind us in Mackay Stadium on Aug. 24. What a great way to launch!" - Jeff Choate on his team playing SMU to start the season.

WR Hudson, Jordan

WR Brinson, Romello

WR Bailey, Jake

TE Maryland, RJ

QB Stone, Preston

RB Knighton, Jaylan

WR Braham Jr., Cortez 

WR Brown, Marshaun

WR Bellon, Marcus 

TE Savaiinaea, Andrew

QB Lewis, Brendon

RB Red, Savion 

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

SMU Mustangs: Rhett Lashlee (3rd season)

Nevada Wolf Pack: Jeff Choate (1st season)