Nevada was 4-20 the last two seasons and they play a stacked SMU squad returning all their key players. New coach season, things should be different, or will they. Only eight players return from last year. USC beat them 66-14 in the opener last year. UNLV beat them 45-27. It's going to be long season but the total definitely goes over.

This SMU team has the potential to make some serious noise in their first season in the ACC. I am also on the over here, and as I mentioned in that pick, the Mustangs return most of their starters (including QB Preston Stone) from last year's 11-win team. Nevada was arguably the worst team in the Mountain West last year, and while they made several personnel and coaching changes, I don't think it will be enough to keep this game from turning into a blowout.

In week zero we know that there is going to be a bit of sloppy football on display. That does not bode well for the Nevada Wolf Pack who have won two games each of the last two seasons. Last season Preston Stone in his first year as starting quarterback began the season slow, but in his final six games the Mustangs scored an average of fifty points per game. Take SMU as the big road favorite.

I've got this game SMU -29 meaning anything below that is a play and this is a play. We've got one of the most explosive offenses in college football back intact with seven key starters facing a team that's just getting to know each other well, a new coach, new staff, and a new team in a new style. SMU averaged 38 points per game last year. New conference this year for SMU in the ACC and this will be one of the few nonpower 4 teams they face among the 10 on the schedule. Lots of room for showing off for SMU. SMU in a big win.

SMU returns the bulk of last year's 11-3 team, including QB Preston Stone. The Mustangs were one of the top offensive teams in the country last year, and should only be better this year with the experience they gained and the talent they added in the Portal. I expect SMU to push this number by themselves. Nevada was pretty awful on both sides in 2023, but they should be better this year, and if they can find the end zone 2-3 times this over should hit comfortably.