Week 0 of the college football season will have just two matchups where both teams compete in the FBS. One of them features a former Group of Five team, and the other is a current G5 squad trying to turn the page as a program.
Nevada has gone 2-10 each of the past two years but hopes to change things now that Jeff Choate is the Wolf Pack’s head coach. They will start the 2024 season by hosting SMU, which just made the move from the AAC to the ACC this offseason.
SMU vs. Nevada Betting Odds
SMU is a -26.5 college football betting odds favorite against Nevada, with the Over/Under being 55.5.
The moneyline for SMU is -3000, while it’s +1300 for Nevada.
SMU vs. Nevada On TV
The matchup between SMU and Nevada will be televised on CBSSN.
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 24. The contest is taking place at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
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SMU vs. Nevada Prediction
I predict SMU will win but Nevada will cover the spread at +26.5. I also project the game will go Over 55.5 total points.
SMU averaged 38.7 points per game last year, and the Mustangs are only expected to be better now that they’re a Power Four team. I could see them putting up plenty of points in this clash.
However, I think the Wolf Pack will also display some improvement here. Nevada had one of the best transfer classes in the Mountain West this offseason, and Choate has proven throughout his career that he’s a capable coach.
Especially at home, I think Nevada will keep this game competitive early on. SMU may pull away in the end, but I’m anticipating the Wolf Pack will show some promise in a loss.
