SMU Is Going To Be Way Better Than People Expect This Year

Back with another edition that hopefully becomes another addition to the bank roll, with Win Total Wednesday. Where every week I'll break down a team's win total and tell you which way I'm leaning in terms of how their season will go.Some will be expected to go OVER the total in my eyes, while others will be expected to go UNDER. 

Today we like SMU OVER 8 WINS -125 

What's to like: 

An explosive offense that ranked 8th in PPG, 40th in rushing yards per game, 22nd in passing yards per game and 16th in total yards per game. Led by QB Preston Stone who threw for 3197 yards with 28 TD and 6 INT and he accumulated those stats despite missing two games. 

The offense brings back 8 starters and has 10 upperclassman. 

The running game will be carried by Jaylan Knighton who averaged 5.5 yards a clip while totaling 745 yards and 7 TD. Recieving options are a plenty with 4 of the Mustangs top 5 pass catchers back from last season. WR's Jake Bailey, Romello Brinson and Jordan Hudson make up a trio that totaled 1,384 yards and 9 TD, while Tight End RJ Maryland went for 518 and 7 TD himself. 

The Defense returns 8 including 6 of it's 7 leading tacklers most notably Kobe Wilson with 8. Look for an extremely stingy pass defense as safeties Isaiah Nwokobia and Jonathan McGill combined for 116 tackles and 5 Int. The Mustangs were 11th in points per game allowed and 12th in total yards allowed last season. 

The schedule is VERY manageable as the Mustangs will be expected to be favored in 10 of their 12 games. The ACC portion especially is a treat. Aside from Louisville and FSU, The Mustangs have a lot of bottom tier conference opponents. @Stanford, @Duke, Pitt, BC, @ Virginia and Cal. 

Take those 6 wins along with @Nevada,Houston Christian, and BYU to open the year and you are sitting pretty. Not to mention hosting TCU in another one SMU can pull out. 

I really like Preston Stone and I like SMU to make noise in the ACC. Back the Mustangs !