SMU vs Nevada Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Nevada is starting a new era with a new head coach. SMU is starting a new era in a new conference.

It’s been a rough run for the Wolf Pack with two straight 2-10 seasons, and now it’s up to former Texas defensive coordinator Jeff Choate to step in and take over. Coming up with a win over a Power Four program would be a big deal.

SMU won the American Athletic Conference last season, and then left to be a part of the new and improved ACC. This is the team’s only road game until October 5th vs Louisville.

SMU vs Nevada Game Preview

SMU vs Nevada How to Watch
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Game Time: 8:00
Venue: Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV
How to Watch: CBS Sports Network
2023 Records: SMU (11-3), Nevada (2-10)
- Week 0 Schedule, Predictions

Why SMU Will Win

The team is better than the one that went 12-2 last season.

All of the major playmakers are back, the passing game should be devastating, and Preston Stone should be an instant ACC star. The offensive side of the ball will be great, and the defensive side might be better.

The pass rush should be tremendous, almost all of the top tacklers return, and Nevada’s rebuilding offensive line shouldn’t be able to handle any of it.

Why Nevada Will Win

The Wolf Pack have good skill parts. If the O line can do anything to give everyone a little bit of time, this might be interesting.

Choate comes in as a strong defensive coach who inherits a solid group of linebackers, nice corners, and with enough coming in from the transfer portal to keep the SMU offense from dominating - at least for stretches.

This has to be an intangibles game for the new coaching staff. Make fewer mistakes, win the turnover battle, own the time of possession, and …

SMU vs Nevada: Who Will Win

There’s a LOT of work to do in Reno.

Nevada was awful last season, and it got rocked by double-digits nine games, but it only lost by more than 28 in the opener to USC and after everything fell apart in the season finale against Wyoming.

SMU will need a while to get going, and at home the Nevada defense will be just plucky enough to keep this from getting out of hand.

The offense, though, won’t be able to handle the Mustang defensive front in the second half as too many drives stall.

SMU vs Nevada Prediction, Betting Lines

SMU 38, Nevada 16
Line: SMU -27.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
SMU vs Nevada Must See Rating: 2