SMU Faces Trap Game Against Wake Forest
UNIVERSITY PARK — Coming off a big road win at Clemson with a highly anticipated clash with Miami just a week away, SMU’s Week 9 matchup at Wake Forest has all the makings of a trap game.
The Mustangs sit at 3-0 atop the ACC and still control their own fate — but only do so if they keep winning. That makes this week just as important as next week.
“Our big message is don’t take the cheese,” SMU tight end Matthew Hibner said. “Don’t take the bait. People are going to say it’s a trap game. For us, it’s just week by week.”
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Wake Forest: A Formidable Opponent
Frankly, Wake Forest may not be the same walk-in-the-park opponent SMU expected it would be ahead of this season. After going 4-8 last season and 2-6 in ACC play, Wake Forest hired Jake Dickert from Washington State to take over its program. So far, he’s off to a strong start.
Wake Forest has exceeded expectations at 4-2. One of its two losses was by a single point to No. 7 Georgia Tech in overtime. Wake Forest has one of the top defenses in the conference and one of the top running backs, as senior Demond Claiborne is the ACC’s third-leading rusher with 539 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
“Probably the best back we’ve played so far,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. “They’re a good football team. What [they’ve] done in six games in year one is really impressive there.”
It’ll be a strength-on-strength matchup in the run game, as SMU’s defense has excelled at stopping the run this season. The Mustangs are allowing opponents just 97 yards rushing on average this season. They held Clemson to just 35 yards rushing on 30 attempts last week.
Challenges Ahead
The Mustangs also have to prepare for a two-quarterback system with senior Robby Ashford and sophomore DeShawn Purdie splitting time. And they have to survive another road game where Wake Forest should have a solid crowd on homecoming weekend.
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“Wake Forest is a good team,” Hibner said. “They’re super gritty. They make a lot of plays. You can tell watching film they’re a really well-coached team, have a great culture, so it’ll be a challenge.”
Staying Focused
But SMU’s goals to return to the ACC championship game only remain in their control as long as they keep winning. Next week’s game against Miami becomes far less interesting and important if the Mustangs can’t survive the Demon Deacons.
Even though SMU hopes to ride the momentum from last week’s win over Clemson, in which it showed improvement in all three phases, its players and coaches know they still have room to grow before their most important stretch of games arrive.
“It’s human nature when things are going well — you come off of a win, a big road win to relax and find yourself complacent, even when you’re not trying to,” Lashlee said. “We’ve got to find a way to be different. When you’re winning, that’s when you can improve the most.”
Prediction
Claiborne may be the best running back SMU has faced this year, but its defense is stepping up at the right time. It has come up with critical stops on 3rd- and 4th-and-short week after week. As good as Claiborne has been, he’s also been inconsistent, and SMU will need to capitalize on that. The Mustangs also expect quarterback Kevin Jennings to be healthier than he was last week, meaning the offense should be able to build on a solid second half at Clemson.
Score: SMU 35, Wake Forest 21
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Conclusion
In conclusion, SMU faces a tough challenge against Wake Forest, but the Mustangs are confident in their abilities and are ready to take on the Demon Deacons. With their strong defense and improving offense, SMU is poised to come out on top and stay in control of their own destiny in the ACC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current record of the SMU Mustangs?
A: The SMU Mustangs are currently 3-0 in the ACC.
Q: Who is the head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
A: The head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons is Jake Dickert.
Q: What is the prediction for the SMU vs. Wake Forest game?
A: The predicted score is SMU 35, Wake Forest 21.
