Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Stanford Cardinal Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 19th 2024
Preview and Prediction
After successfully handling two of their new competitors to the east, SMU shifts its focus to the west as the No. 21 Mustangs prepare for their first Atlantic Coast Conference trip to Stanford on Saturday night.
Coming off a bye week following their 34-27 victory over then-No. 22 Louisville, SMU (5-1, 2-0 ACC) will face an opponent they haven't seen since the 1935 Rose Bowl. In that game, Stanford defeated the Mustangs 7-0, handing them their only loss of the season.
Despite the defeat, SMU was named the 1935 national champion by two prominent ranking methods - the Dickinson System, a mathematical points formula, and the Houlgate System, a strength-of-schedule calculation.
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However, the Mustangs have not won a widely recognized national title since then. The Associated Press poll was established in 1936.
Looking ahead at their remaining schedule, which does not include ACC frontrunners Clemson or Miami and only features one other currently ranked team (No. 20 Pittsburgh), SMU will be aiming for their fourth consecutive win against a struggling Stanford team that has lost three in a row.
The Mustangs head west as a ranked team, moving into the rankings after their victory over Louisville and a bye week. They climbed four spots in the latest poll released on Sunday.
However, being ranked also has its drawbacks, as coach Rhett Lashlee has reminded his team. He emphasized the importance of staying present and focused on the task at hand when they face Stanford, in order to avoid becoming just another statistic of a ranked team that fell short.
Offensively, SMU has been averaging 40.8 points per game in their first six games, led by running back Brashard Smith who is currently tied for second in the ACC with eight touchdowns, seven of which were scored on the ground.
The Mustangs will also be looking to extend their impressive road record, having won their last seven away games.
On the other hand, Stanford (2-4, 1-2) has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 30.8 points per game, including a season-high of 49 points in their recent loss to Notre Dame.
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Interestingly, both teams have a tendency to rotate quarterbacks. SMU began the season with Preston Stone as their primary signal-caller, but have since transitioned to sophomore Keith Jennings who threw for a season-best 254 yards in their win over Florida State and 281 yards in their last game against Louisville.
Meanwhile, Stanford coach Troy Taylor, a former collegiate quarterback at Cal, has been impressed by both SMU's quarterbacks and their fast-paced offense. He emphasized the importance of being prepared for their tempo, as they are one of the fastest teams in the country.
The Cardinal started their ACC play with a 26-24 victory over Syracuse, but have since suffered losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech by a combined score of 71-21.
In their last game against Notre Dame, Stanford used both of their quarterbacks - Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson. Daniels returned after missing their game against Virginia Tech due to a leg injury.
One of the Cardinal's most productive offensive players as of late has been freshman running back Chris Davis Jr., who has seen an increase in carries in their last three games. He currently ranks second on the team in rushing yards with 233, behind Daniels' 292.