SMU vs. Nevada prediction, odds, betting lines: 2024 college football picks, Week 0 bets by proven model

Former Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate makes his head coaching debut at Nevada on Saturday when the Wolf Pack take on the SMU Mustangs in a key Week 0 non-conference matchup. The Wolf Pack, who tied for 10th-place in the Mountain West a year ago at 2-6, were 2-10 overall. The Mustangs, meanwhile, won the American Athletic Conference at 8-0 in their final year in the league and were 11-3 overall. SMU joined the ACC last month.

Kickoff from Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev., is set for 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. SMU averaged 454.9 yards per game in 2023, eighth-best in the country, while Nevada averaged 300. The Mustangs are favored by 27.5 points in the latest SMU vs. Nevada odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 55.5. 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 -27.5
• SMU vs. Nevada over/under: 55.5 points
• SMU vs. Nevada money line: SMU -5000, Nevada +1592
• 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

One of the Mustangs’ top weapons in the passing game is junior tight end R.J. Maryland. In two seasons with SMU, he has already caught 61 passes for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had seven touchdowns and 518 yards on 34 receptions in 2023. In the AAC Championship Game against Tulane, Maryland caught a season-high tying five passes for 56 yards. 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 registered 80 tackles a year ago, including 48 solo, with one sack. He also intercepted one pass, while breaking up another, and had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In the 26-14 win over Tulane in the AAC Championship Game, he registered 11 tackles, including seven solo, and one-half sack. See which team to pick here.

Why Nevada can cover

Redshirt sophomore tight end Cameron Zeidler returns and is expected to bolster the Wolf Pack’s receiving corps. In five games last season, he caught 10 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown. He registered a season-long 21-yard catch twice, including one for a touchdown in a 41-24 loss at Utah State on Nov. 11, and in a 27-14 loss to Hawaii on Nov. 4. He caught five passes for 39 yards in a 30-20 loss at Colorado State on Nov. 18.

One of the Wolf Pack’s top returning defensive players is senior linebacker Tongiaki Mateialona. In 12 games in 2023, he recorded 53 tackles, including 33 solo, with one sack and two forced fumbles. He had a season-high eight tackles, including five solo, in a 6-0 win at San Diego State on Oct. 21. He had seven tackles, including four solo, in a 35-24 loss at Texas State on Sept. 23. See which team to pick here.

How to make Nevada vs. SMU picks

SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total, projecting 66 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 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 nearly 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.