Welcome residence, Mustangs.
No. 20 SMU (7-1) will return to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday towards No. 18 Pitt (7-Zero) for its first residence recreation in over a month. Since then, the Mustangs have overwhelmed three Atlantic Coast Convention groups on the street, climbed into the AP High 25 and solidified themselves as a real contender of their new convention.
Saturday's recreation will convey the hardest problem within the league up to now.
SMU vs. Pitt
When: 7pm CT Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Data: SMU (7-1, Four-Zero ACC); Pitt (7-Zero, Three-Zero)
Final assembly: SMU defeated Duke 28-6 on January 7, 2012 within the BBVA Compass Bowl
What’s at stake?
Briefly: A possible maintain on first place within the ACC and a clearer path to the convention championship recreation.
The Mustangs and Panthers are two of 4 groups — together with Clemson (6-1, 5-Zero) and Miami (Eight-Zero, Four-Zero) — which are undefeated in convention play. If SMU beats Pitt, and if Clemson (which performs Louisville on Saturday) and Miami (which performs Duke) theoretically lose, the Mustangs would discover themselves within the driver's seat of the convention on Sunday.
If the Mustangs lose on Saturday and if Clemson and Miami each win, SMU's street to the ACC Championship recreation turns into considerably harder. Deserted convention divisions previous to the 2023 season and the convention championship can be performed by the 2 groups with the best league successful percentages. The Mustangs may both be in first place or locked in a multi-team pile-up for third after this weekend with three video games left to play.
When SMU has the ball
The Panthers are permitting the eighth-fewest dashing yards (93) and third-fewest per carry (2.52) amongst FBS groups this season. The Mustangs' 340 makes an attempt this season are 11th nationally and greater than 45 p.c of their whole offensive yardage has come on the bottom.
So what’s going to it give?
“You take a look at it and say, 'Nicely, no one's working it effectively,'” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee mentioned. “Lots of people don't attempt to run them persistently. The best way they play, it's onerous to be explosive to run the soccer, it’s a must to grind it out. On the similar time, you're simply saying, 'Man, take a look at all these alternatives within the passing recreation.'
Lashlee assessed steadiness and cited those that did not diversify their offense. Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord carried the ball 62 occasions — and threw 5 interceptions — in a 41-13 loss to Pitt final Thursday. West Virginia ran the ball 45 occasions (and handed simply 30 occasions) in a 38-34 loss to Pitt in September.
Success, Lashlee believes, lies someplace within the center.
“To beat any good protection like Pitt,” Lashlee mentioned, “it’s a must to have steadiness.”
When Pitt has the ball
Solely 5 FBS groups common extra factors per recreation than the Panthers. Freshman quarterback Eli Holstein was “on the middle of all of this,” Lashlee mentioned.
Holstein, a 6-foot-Four passer from Zachary, La., who signed with Alabama and transferred to Pitt final offseason, threw for 1,805 yards, 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He left Pitt's win towards Syracuse late within the fourth quarter with an undisclosed harm, however was cleared to play towards the Mustangs.
“The boldness, you may see it,” Lashlee mentioned. “Once I get to see him on TV generally and once we watch movie, the arrogance he places in that unit could be very noticeable.”
Cal bottled Holstein's finest this season and held him to 133 yards and two interceptions in a 17-15 win at Pitt in early October. The Mustangs — who pressured the ninth seed within the FBS — should do the identical on Saturday.
foresight
Pitt offers SMU its hardest check since early September towards then-No. 9 BYU. The Mustangs have since handed the keys to full-time quarterback Kevin Jennings — who might want to bounce again from the worst begin of his profession towards Duke — and have gained 5 straight video games since then.
Right here's the underside line: SMU turned the ball over six occasions and nonetheless managed to beat Duke on the street Saturday. If its offense can return to regular ranges and the protection can proceed to create turnovers, the Mustangs can compete with the ACC's finest. A packed Gerald J. Ford Stadium gained't damage both.
Prediction: SMU 21, Pitt 17
Discover extra SMU protection from The Dallas Morning Information right here.