Note that I picked SMU before that QB hit the portal.
No great mystery in the selection. SMU did everything but beat Clemson in the ACC Championship game. We beat Clemson the week before, in Clemson. I KNOW we are a playoff caliber team, so I know SMU and Clemson are now playoff worthy, despite Clemson getting thrashed by the Dawgs in the first game of the season. The Dawgs and Horns have shown they are solid, twice.
So I can't pick against the Horns in Austin, BUT, I considered doing so. Clemson might pull the upset. I now know they are capable.
The BG10 power teams are more susceptible in big games to upsets than SEC teams (THE and MICH game for example). I'm not feeling it in my gut towards the Horns, but I AM feeling it towards PSU. (Sorry Psute).