The SMU Mustangs will open Week 0 action on Saturday against the Nevada Wolfpack in a non-conference game in Reno, Nevada. The Mustangs, who went 8-0 in the American Athletic Conference and 11-3 overall, joined the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. The Wolfpack, who finished tied for 10th in the Mountain West with a 2-6 record, were 2-10 overall in 2023. Nevada was 1-5 at home and SMU was 5-2 on the road.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 PM ET on CBS Sports Network at Mackey Stadium in Reno, Nevada. SMU is averaging 278.4 passing yards per game in 2023 while Nevada averaged 175.2. The Mustangs, who started at -18.5, are a 27.5-point favorite in the latest SMU vs Nevada odds from SportsLine's consensus, and the over/under for total points is 55.5. Before making any Nevada vs SMU picks, be sure to check out our college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's prediction model.
The model simulates FBS college football games 10,000 times. Since inception, the model has generated well over $2,000 in profits for players who spend $100 on the top rated college football picks against the spread. The model also just finished a season with a profitable 13-9 record on its top rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed this model has seen significant profits.
Now, the model has set its sights on SMU vs. Nevada and has locked in its predictions and CFB projections: To see the model's predictions, visit SportsLine now: Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Nevada vs. SMU:
SMU vs. Nevada spread: SMU -27.5SMU vs. Nevada over/under: 55.5 pointsSMU vs. Nevada money line: SMU -5000, Nevada +1592SMU: The Mustangs are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games played in AugustNEV: The Wolf Pack are 1-10 against their last 11 home gamesSMU vs. Nevada picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why SMU can cover this
One of the Mustangs' best weapons in the passing game is third-year tight end RJ Maryland. In two seasons at SMU, he has already caught 61 passes for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2023, he had 34 catches for seven touchdowns and 518 yards. In the AAC championship game against Tulane, Maryland caught five passes for 56 yards, tying his season high. He also had five catches for 58 yards and a score in a 38-14 win over Louisiana Tech on Sept. 2.
SMU also returns one of its top defensive players in senior linebacker Kobe Wilson. The fifth-year veteran recorded 80 tackles last year (48 solo tackles and one sack), as well as an intercepted pass, a pass intercepted, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He recorded 11 tackles, including seven solo and 1/2 a sack, in a 26-14 win over Tulane in the AAC Championship Game. Find out which team you'll pick here.
Why Nevada has you covered
One of the Wolfpack's best weapons is senior running back Shawn Dollars. He led Nevada in rushing last year with 151 carries for 527 yards (3.5) and six touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 77 yards (4.3 average). In a 41-24 loss to Utah State on Nov. 11, he rushed 18 times for 82 yards and one score. In a 27-14 loss to Hawaii on Nov. 4, he scored two touchdowns.
Defensively, Nevada's most productive player was junior linebacker Drew Watts. Watts was third on the team with 60 tackles (31 solo), 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups and four fumble recoveries. In a 31-24 win over Kansas on September 16, he recorded four stops, including three solo tackles, a half-sack and one fumble recovery. In a 30-20 win over Colorado State on September 18, he recorded eight tackles with four solo tackles and one pass breakup. Find out which team to pick here.
How to predict Nevada vs. SMU
The SportsLine model is predicting the Over total, with a total of 66 points. The model also has one side of the spread hitting nearly 60% of the time. This model's projections are available exclusively at SportsLine.
So who will win the SMU vs. Nevada game? And which side of the spread will come true in nearly 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine today to find out which side of the spread you should bet on. This is from an advanced computer simulation model that has made over $2,000 in profits on college football predictions since its inception.
