The 2024 college football season gets underway on Saturday with a light Week 0 schedule. One of those games features the 24th-ranked SMU Mustangs taking on the Nevada Wolf Pack in a key non-conference matchup in Reno, Nevada. The Mustangs, who joined the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, finished 2023 with an 11-3 record. The Wolf Pack, who finished 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference a year ago, were 2-10 overall.
Kickoff from Mackay Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET. The all-time series is tied 3-3, but SMU has won the last two meetings. The Mustangs are 24.5-point favorites in the latest SMU vs. Nevada odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 56.5. Before making any Nevada vs. SMU picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on SMU vs. Nevada and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Nevada vs. SMU:
- SMU vs. Nevada spread: SMU -24.5
- SMU vs. Nevada over/under: 56.5 points
- SMU vs. Nevada money line: SMU -3333, Nevada +1283
- SMU: The Mustangs are 1-5 against the spread in their past six games played in August
- NEV: The Wolf Pack are 1-10 in their past 11 games at home
- SMU vs. Nevada picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why SMU can cover
Junior quarterback Preston Stone is coming off a solid season a year ago. In 12 games, he completed 206 of 344 passes (59.9%) for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was picked off just six times and had a rating of 161.3. In a 69-10 win over Tulsa on Oct. 28, he completed 15 of 20 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns.
Also helping power the Mustangs offense is senior running back Jaylan Knighton. He led the team in rushing in 2023, carrying 136 times for 745 yards (5.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 89 yards (6.8 average), including a long of 28 yards. His best game came in a 34-16 victory over Charlotte on Sept. 30. In that game, he carried 11 times for 150 yards (13.6 average) and two scores. See which team to pick here.
Why Nevada can cover
Back for the Wolf Pack is redshirt junior quarterback Brendon Lewis. In 12 games in 2023, he completed 131 of 236 passes (55.5%) for 1,313 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 120 times for 495 yards (4.1 average) and four scores. His best passing game came in a 45-27 loss to UNLV on Oct. 14, completing 16 of 31 passes (51.6%) for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
Boston College transfer Patrick Garwo III steps into the limelight at running back for the Wolf Pack. In five seasons with the Eagles, he carried 436 times for 1,889 yards (4.3 average) and 11 touchdowns. His best year came in 2021, when he rushed for 1,045 yards on 205 carries (5.1 average) and seven touchdowns. He also had a long run of 67 yards. See which team to pick here.
How to make Nevada vs. SMU picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 66 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins SMU vs. Nevada, and which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer simulation model that’s up well over $2,000 on its college football picks since inception, and find out.
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