Jeff Choate, the former co-defensive coordinator for Texas, is set to make his head coaching debut with Nevada on Saturday as the Wolf Pack face the SMU Mustangs in an important Week 0 non-conference clash. Last season, Nevada tied for 10th place in the Mountain West with a record of 2-6, finishing 2-10 overall. On the other hand, SMU dominated the American Athletic Conference last year, finishing 8-0 in their final season in the league and concluding the year with an 11-3 record before joining the ACC.
The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada, and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. In 2023, SMU boasted an impressive average of 454.9 yards per game, ranking eighth nationally, while Nevada averaged 300 yards per game. SMU is heavily favored by 27.5 points, with the over/under for total points set at 55.5.
Before placing any bets on the Nevada vs. SMU game, sportsbooks recommend checking the college football predictions and betting analysis provided by the SportsLine Projection Model. This model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times and has historically yielded over $2,000 in profit for $100 bettors on its most reliable college football picks against the spread.
Recent stats for the matchup indicate that while SMU has struggled against the spread (1-5) in their last six August games, Nevada has a disappointing record of 1-10 in their last 11 home games.
For SMU, junior tight end R.J. Maryland is a standout in their passing game, having recorded 61 catches for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two seasons thus far. Last year, he contributed significantly in the AAC Championship Game, catching five passes for 56 yards and scoring in a victory against Tulane.
On the defensive side, senior linebacker Kobe Wilson is among SMU’s key players, having tallied 80 tackles, one sack, and an interception last season. His performance in the AAC Championship Game included 11 tackles.
For Nevada, redshirt sophomore tight end Cameron Zeidler is expected to enhance their receiving options after catching 10 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown last season. Additionally, senior linebacker Tongiaki Mateialona is a top returning defender, having achieved 53 tackles and one sack last year.
According to SportsLine’s projection, the model predicts a high-scoring affair, estimating a combined total of 66 points. It also suggests one side of the spread will be favorable nearly 60% of the time. For detailed predictions and team selections, visiting SportsLine is recommended.