Southern Methodist Mustangs vs Brigham Young Cougars Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

SMU Looks to Build Momentum Against BYU After Dominant Victory

SMU is making a name for itself as one of the most explosive offenses in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), following a huge 59-7 win over Houston Christian. As the Mustangs (2-0) prepare for a Friday night showdown against BYU in Dallas, they’re looking to keep their perfect start intact by riding the wave of their impressive performance.

SMU’s Balanced Attack and Opportunistic Defense

SMU isn’t just all about offense. Their defense has also proven it can deliver game-changing plays. In their recent game against Houston Christian, the Mustangs’ defense allowed only 157 total yards and forced three key turnovers, which directly led to touchdowns. These early takeaways gave SMU a commanding advantage right from the start.

One of the standout moments came when 348-pound nose tackle Anthony Booker recovered a fumble and rumbled 16 yards for a touchdown, helping the Mustangs jump to a 28-0 lead by the first quarter.

On top of their stellar defense, SMU’s offense piled up a whopping 595 total yards. Quarterback Preston Slone threw for two touchdowns, and Brashard Smith led the ground game with 108 rushing yards.

BYU Finds Its Rhythm in Season Opener

BYU comes into this matchup feeling confident after a 41-13 win against Southern Illinois to kick off their season. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff had a career night, throwing for 348 yards and three touchdowns. The Cougars took control of the game with 527 total yards of offense, 27 first downs, and over 39 minutes of possession.

BYU’s defense, a point of focus after a rough 5-7 season last year, came out strong, holding Southern Illinois to just 231 yards.

Key Matchup: SMU’s Offense vs. BYU’s Defense

The game promises to be a fascinating battle between SMU’s high-octane offense and BYU’s defense, which is looking to show it’s improved from last year. SMU will look to take advantage of their ability to force turnovers and create short fields, but BYU will be a much tougher opponent than Houston Christian.

BYU’s offense, led by the poised Retzlaff, will aim to control the clock and limit SMU’s possessions, similar to what they did in their season opener. However, SMU’s explosive offense has shown that they can strike quickly, making every possession count for both teams.

BYU’s Dominance in the Series

Historically, BYU has owned this matchup, winning all four previous meetings, including an epic 24-23 win in the 2022 New Mexico Bowl. This time, SMU will be eager to end that streak and keep their strong start to the season going as they try to make a statement in their new conference, the ACC.

The showdown between SMU and BYU will be a true test of which team has the edge as the season progresses. With SMU’s explosive offense and BYU’s revitalized defense, Friday night’s game is shaping up to be a must-watch.