The schedules give SMU a small edge in rest. The Mustangs played Virginia Tech on a Friday night, so they get an extra day before kickoff, while Wake Forest turns around off a Saturday game and flies to Texas for a late-morning start. That won't decide a game on its own, but it adds to a week where Wake's biggest question is health.
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Wake Forest's form is ridiculous: 5-0 in the last 5, 264 points scored and 31 allowed. No opponent in that run got past 14. Look at who was on the schedule, though. Stanford, Cal, Virginia and an FCS team make up 4 of the 5. The one game in that stretch against a defense that could push back was a 38-14 win at NC State, which is solid but not a blowout. SMU's offense will be the best the Deacs have seen in more than a month.
There are 2 common opponents, and they mostly favor Wake. The Deacs beat Virginia by 44 and won at Cal 41-7. SMU beat Virginia 23-13 and Cal 59-20, both at home. The Mustangs' early-October home wins over Boston College and Virginia were grinders, and their only loss in the stretch was a 30-27 decision at Syracuse. Their recent run looks more like a team that found its offense mid-season than one that's been dominant all year, and they have Jennings throwing like it right now.
The forecast in Dallas is clear and about 61 degrees with a light 10 mph wind, so weather won't give either offense an excuse. It's an ACC game between 2 teams with 5 conference wins each and a ranked visitor walking into a building where SMU has won 4 straight in this stretch. If Lopez plays, Wake's case is its month. If he doesn't, Pizzella has to prove that 432-yard half travels.
