Best / Worst Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Virginia Tech | Cal | NC State | Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Stanford| Wake Forest
SMU
SMU’s long journey from the death penalty to major college athletics has finally arrived. Due to massive financial backing from their boosters, and improved athletics SMU is moving up in weight class. I don’t see any reason why they can’t be an ACC version of what TCU did for the Big 12 after they moved. Rhett Lashlee is one of the best young coaches in America guiding SMU to 18 wins the last two years. This team has talent across the board and could be a factor in this year’s ACC. I do wonder do they have enough depth to hold up over the course of the year in the ACC. As we saw last year when UCF, BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston went from G5 to P5, not a single one finished with a winning record at the end of the year. Can SMU buck that trend?
Will Go 10-2 (6-2) if:
SMU can through the early part of their schedule mostly unscathed. There is a 4 game stretch that could define the Mustangs season, BYU, TCU, FSU, and at Louisville. If SMU can get through those 4 games 3-1 or better then they are probably favored in every game after that. Preston Stone comes into the season one of the best ACC QBs, and there is talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. SMU was a top 20 team on offense and defense last season. Will that translate to the ACC? If their depth can hold up it just might.
Will Go 5-7 (2-6) if:
The Mustangs simply aren’t ready for P4 football. Last season SMU lost all three of their games against current P4 teams, and the closest one was by 9 points. SMU could easily lose all 4 of their games against BYU, TCU, FSU, and at Louisville. You’re sitting at 2-4 trying to make a bowl. The finishing kick is softer, at Stanford, at Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, at Virginia, and California, but that’s still 3 teams that made a bowl last year. I think their starting 22 can compete in the ACC, but the rest of the roster for 12 full games? The league jump could wear down SMU.
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