Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Louisville Cardinals Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 5th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Last week, a defeat at Notre Dame not only removed 22nd-ranked Louisville from the list of undefeated teams, but also provided valuable lessons for the Cardinals, according to second-year coach Jeff Brohm.

According to Brohm, "There are many areas that need improvement, but that is to be expected when facing tough opponents every week. We just need to be more careful with turnovers, limit big plays, execute in crucial situations, and have a solid plan in place to improve."

On Saturday, the Cardinals will put these theories into practice as they host SMU for an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

Despite outgaining Notre Dame 395-280, Louisville made too many errors to defeat a strong team on the road, ultimately losing 31-24. The Cardinals had three turnovers, allowed three sacks, and were penalized six times for 50 yards, including a costly delay-of-game call before a fourth-and-1 play in the final minute. This penalty led to an incomplete pass and sealed the outcome of the game.

Despite a stellar performance from quarterback Tyler Shough, who threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns, Louisville was unable to secure the win. Shough, a transfer from Texas Tech, has been impressive this season, completing 65% of his passes for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns with only one interception in 117 attempts.

His top receiver has been Ja'Corey Brooks, a transfer from Alabama, who has 22 catches for 368 yards and four touchdowns, two of which came against Notre Dame. However, Louisville will need to prioritize ball security as SMU has forced 14 turnovers in just five games, tying them for the most in the FBS.

In their ACC debut, SMU dominated Florida State 42-16, thanks in part to three interceptions, one of which resulted in an 82-yard touchdown by Kobe Wilson. Head coach Jeff Brohm praised the Mustangs' aggressive defense, saying, "On third down, they get very exotic and they come after the quarterback. They do some things that other teams aren't aggressive doing, so I give them credit. They're well-coached and they're believing in what they're doing."

While Florida State may not be living up to their preseason top-10 ranking, the result was a dream start for SMU, who hasn't been in a "power" conference since 1995 when the Southwest Conference disbanded. Since then, they have played in various Group of Five leagues.

SMU's offense has been impressive, averaging 42.2 points per game and 419.4 yards per game, with a balanced attack of both rushing and passing. Running back Brashard Smith, a transfer from Miami, has already rushed for 509 yards and scored seven touchdowns this season.

Defensively, the Mustangs have been solid, with the exception of a high-scoring 66-42 win over TCU. In their other four games, they have held opponents to an average of just 16.3 points.

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee praised the team's defense, saying, "I don't know what to say about our defense. They keep responding. That's what we want to do...It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our defensive staff and players."

This will be the first meeting between these two schools in 40 years, with SMU winning both previous matchups in 1983 and 1984 by a combined score of 65-13.

PREDICTION

Southern Methodist Mustangs

24

31

Louisville Cardinals

Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Louisville Cardinals Recap OCT 5TH 2024