SMU enters an important sport week of the season with an opportunity to clinch a spot within the ACC title sport.
To take action, the Mustangs (9-1, 6-Zero) might want to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers (5-5, Three-Three) on their dwelling courtroom in SMU's ultimate highway sport of the yr.
The Mustangs have been an ideal Four-Zero on the highway this season and are driving a nine-game successful streak.
Listed here are three keys for SMU to maintain this streak alive and safe a spot in Charlotte.
Minimizing turnover
SMU almost misplaced its final highway sport to Duke, narrowly escaping Durham with a slender 28-27 victory after dropping the turnover battle 6-Zero.
Mustang quarterback Kevin Jennings had 5 turnovers by himself in what he referred to as one of many worst performances of his profession.
Profitable a sport regardless of dropping a turnover battle is nearly exceptional. Doing so in a highway surroundings is much more surprising.
In its final two video games, SMU has rebounded and minimized turnovers, turning the ball over simply as soon as within the first half towards Boston School on Saturday.
SMU enters because the stronger group on paper towards Virginia, so the Mustangs should keep away from related errors they made towards Duke to not give the Cavaliers an opportunity to steal a win.
He will get to the quarterback
When SMU wanted its entrance seven to step up in crunch time towards Boston School, the group did, arising with back-to-back catches on third and fourth downs on the potential game-winner for the Eagles.
Kobe Wilson and Jahfari Harvey had been the heroes as two of SMU's three complete sacks on Saturday got here that approach.
The Mustangs might want to put the stress on Saturday towards Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who has thrown for greater than 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in his second season as a starter.
Virginia has given up 33 sacks in 10 video games this yr, fourth-worst within the ACC, in comparison with simply 11 for SMU, which is tied for second.
The Mustangs count on to have defensive finish Elijah Roberts again, who missed final week with a damaged hand. He ranks second within the nation in pressures this season.
Stopping the run
Boston School created a sport plan that efficiently challenged SMU's run protection, which was one of the best within the ACC this season.
The Eagles aired it within the first half, which compelled SMU to cowl the whole area and opened up the operating sport within the second half. Boston School completed with 180 dashing yards, essentially the most SMU has given up in a single sport all season. It's additionally double the common size the Mustang protection allowed on the sector coming into the sport.
Virginia is a middle-of-the-pack offense within the ACC, averaging 142.2 yards per sport. Junior Xavier Brown and senior Kobe Tempo have mixed for simply over 1,000 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. Colandrea additionally has 108 carries for 282 yards and two scores.
Roberts' return must also assist SMU cease the run, however the Mustangs will must be extra profitable in that space than they had been final week.
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