Week 0 of college football will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 24, and the primetime game will feature a matchup between the SMU Mustangs and the Nevada Wolf Pack at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
Before this one kicks off the first primetime college football game of 2024, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and an SMU vs. Nevada prediction.
SMU vs. Nevada Betting and DFS Preview
All SMU vs. Nevada odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, August 22, 2024. Looking to calculate the return on your investment? The CFN Betting Odds Calculator takes the hard work out of calculating your potential winnings.
- Spread
SMU -24.5 - Moneyline
SMU -2100, Nevada +1600 - Over/Under
56.5 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV - Predicted Weather at Kick
85 degrees, sunny, 10-12 mph winds - How to Watch
CBS Sports Network
The former WAC rivals will meet for SMU’s first game as a member of the ACC. This marks the first matchup between SMU and Nevada since Christmas Eve, 2009, when the Mustangs hammered Nevada 45-10.
The line currently sits at SMU -24.5, but there is a chance it will climb back to 25 or higher before kickoff. This line opened at SMU -19.5 in May and has increased since then. The total opened at 53.5 in May and has also risen to 56.5.
It’s hard to imagine the market reacting in a way that brings this spread and total down.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Preston Stone, SMU
- RB Brashard Smith, SMU
- WR Key’shawn Smith, SMU
- RB Sean Dollars, Nevada
- WR Jake Bailey, SMU
- RB Jaden Smith, Nevada
Prestone Stone would be an obvious week 0 DFS play, but it’s a bit up in the air exactly how much of the game he’ll play. While SMU announced that Stone would start under center, the school also clarified that Kevin Jennings would see some Week 0 playing time, as well.
It remains to be seen how much time Jennings will take from Stone, which creates some serious uncertainty about Stone as a week 0 DFS play.
Add to that the fact that this game could be out of hand by the third quarter with SMU keeping the ball on the ground, and it’s hard to jump at the chance of adding Stone to a fantasy lineup.
Prediction for SMU vs. Nevada
The unfortunate reality for Nevada and first-year head coach Jeff Choate is that these two programs have been going in precisely opposite directions for the last few seasons.
The 2024 season could be the most pivotal for SMU since Eric Dickerson’s days. Joining the ACC means the Mustangs will face some of the top college programs in the nation as they look to play spoiler in a top-heavy conference.
The Mustangs are fresh off an 11-3 campaign in 2023 and are looking for their first back-to-back double-digit win seasons since the early 1980s.
Choate had his work cut out when he took over a decimated Wolf Pack roster. Nevada is coming off its second consecutive 10-loss season. While it’s possible for him to rebuild them into a program that competes for Mountain West titles, they have a long road ahead of them.
Quarterback Brendon Lewis deserves some leniency, as he had virtually no protection and was under constant pressure in 2023. The former Colorado starting quarterback has some raw ability and a ton of athleticism, but he managed only two touchdown passes to six interceptions in 2023 while throwing for 1,313 yards.
The good news for Nevada is that it’s at home. The bad news? Just about everything else.
Nevada gave up a staggering 6.7 yards per play to opponents in 2023. With an electric offense such as SMU visiting in week 0, the Wolf Pack will have no idea how much they’ve improved before one of the tougher tests on their 2024 schedule.
This one has a chance to get out of hand quickly.
Prediction: SMU 45, Nevada 17
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