2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: SMU Mustangs Stats

The SMU Mustangs are taking a big step up in class, moving from the American Athletic Conference to the ACC. Coach Rhett Lashlee and the Mustangs return 14 starts from last year’s AAC championship team.

The biggest of the bunch is quarterback Preston Stone. The Mustangs were expected to be good last season, but surpassed expectations and won 11 games.

SMU is primed to have another strong season even though the competition is going to be a bit tougher, making it tough for the 2024 SMU Mustangs stats to match last season.

Mustangs At A Glance

Underrated Defense Keys 2023 Turnaround

Everybody talks about the SMU offense and that’s to be expected when you average 38.7 points per game. The biggest improve for the Mustangs last year, however, was the defense.

• After allowing more than 33 points a game in 2022’s 7-6 season, SMU allowed just 17.8 points in last year’s 11-3 season.

On the offense, nearly all of the skill players return, and the Mustangs added several more. The NCAAF team doesn’t have any shortage of weapons, so the 2024 SMU Mustangs stats should be impressive once again.

SMU did lose their two best offensive linemen, but welcome a pair of solid transfers from Oklahoma. Lashlee believes this year’s offensive line is more talented, although he’s not going to say anything different.

SMU was busy in the transfer portal to fill a few spots on the defense and made out pretty well. The team is well-set at linebacker, where last year’s leading tacklers Kobe Wilson and Ahmad Walker return.

The Mustangs added a number of defensive linemen and several NCAAF players in the secondary. The defense may give up a few more points this year, but will still be a solid unit.

Championship Odds: Asking Too Much From Mustangs

The college football championship odds on the Mustangs are lower than than last year’s +50000, but is still out of reach for SMU. The Mustangs will have a good team, but a mid-tier bowl game is a much more realistic target.

My favorite 2025 QB Prospect? That man Preston Stone. pic.twitter.com/UX5Gb2ezsx

— The Mock Draft Guy ™️ (@MockDraftGuyYT) May 26, 2024

Conference Odds: Not Entirely Out of the Question

SMU is a bit of a longshot here, but the odds of +1600 imply there’s a bit of hope for the Mustangs. The Mustangs will find out early on if they have any chance of stunning the ACC.

Florida State visits on Sept. 28 and the early line has the Seminoles -8. That game is followed by a tough test at Louisville, so that two-game stretch will determine SMU’s conference fate.

Regular Season Wins: Mustangs Getting Respect

SMU has already seen its season win total move from 7.5 to 8 and the move makes sense. The Mustangs received a major break from the ACC schedule-maker, as the team avoids Miami, Clemson and Virginia Tech. All things considered, the NCAAF schedule isn’t too terribly bad for making the jump to a tougher conference.

The offense will need to continue to perform at a high level. If the 2024 SMU Mustangs stats can come close to last year’s, SMU has the potential for 10 wins.

Part of that will be determined by how well Stone recovers from his broken leg, but reports are positive. He threw for 3,197 yards and 28 TDs against six interceptions last year despite missing the conference title game and bowl game.

The defense was solid, but does need to be a little better up front against the tougher competition. In last year’s three losses, SMU allowed over 160 rushing yards and 28.3 points per game.

• The Mustangs allowed 14.9 points in their 11 victories. The new faces should help ensure SMU doesn’t miss much of a beat on the defensive side.

There is some value in taking the over 8 wins with SMU. The Mustangs could be slightly overvalued when it comes to betting your picks and parlays NCAAF, but appear to be a solid wager in this bet.

To Make Playoffs: A Definite Longshot

The expansion to a 12-team field gives the Mustangs an outside shot at advancing to the playoffs, but a lot of things are going to have to fall the right way.

SMU can do no worse than split against FSU and Louisville and will probably need to win the remaining games. The Mustangs will be underdogs at Louisville on the college football lines, so need to pull one upset. Stranger things have happened, so it’s possible. It’s just not probable.

Side Bets

There are a few more side bets available for the Mustangs after making the jump to the ACC. The season wins total on just conference games for the Mustangs is 5.5-under (-210).

• Betting over 5.5 conference returns +160 and is worth a small stab. Even if SMU falls to Louisville and FSU, the Mustangs have a decent chance at winning the remaining ACC games.

Stone is +12000 to win the Heisman, which is probably a little bit higher than it should be. He does have the fact that he’s just a sophomore working against him, along with the fact he’s not a name player yet. The Heisman is still a popularity contest at heart.

Another wager compared SMU to UCF for most victories. The Mustangs are -200 and the Knights are +160. SMU should win more games than UCF, but you don’t like laying -200 on a wager like this.

For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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