Friday’s college football slate features two non-conference matchups between Power 4 teams, including the matchup that will take the spotlight in this space, a showdown between BYU and SMU in Dallas (7:00 pm ET, ESPN2).
The Mustangs (2-0), who will begin their first ACC campaign later this month, have opened the season with victories over Nevada and Houston Christian.
With a win over BYU (1-0), SMU will be 3-0 for the first time since 2021, when they started 7-0.
Early college football picks for this matchup favor that outcome, but will the Cougars, who kicked off the season with a 28-point win over Southern Illinois, conjure up an upset at Gerald J. Ford Stadium? Read on for a BYU vs SMU prediction and expert picks for this Big 12 vs ACC battle.
5/5 Review Rating 50% up to $1,000
Bonus Details »
$10 Cash Bonus with code “BNEWS”
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
See more odds for this game and other college football odds at BetOnline. Check out our BetOnline review to learn more about them.
BYU vs SMU Betting Analysis
In their opener at Nevada, the Mustangs trailed 24-13 well into the fourth quarter but scored the game’s final 16 points, including the decisive touchdown with a little over a minute left. There was much less drama last week against Houston Christian, as SMU led 35-0 early in the second quarter on the way to a 59-7 victory.
BYU had a fairly easy, breezy stroll last weekend against Southern Illinois, as two first-quarter touchdowns set the Cougars on their way against the Salukis.
Both teams topped the 500-yard mark offensively while allowing little defensively against their FCS opposition, which is the ideal outcome in such matchups.
All that said, for the purposes of evaluating both teams for this matchup, there’s not much that can be taken from what either team has done thus far, given the opposition.
BYU vs SMU Prediction & Expert Picks
If you look at the 1 to 134 FBS rankings at the likes of CBS Sports and Sporting News, SMU currently comes in more than 30 spots ahead of BYU. The Mustangs were picked to finish seventh in the ACC and slot into the top half of their new conference, while the Cougars were picked to finish 13th in the Big 12, ahead of only Cincinnati, Houston, and Arizona State.
The Big 12 is a stronger conference from top to bottom than the ACC, but that does indicate the perceived gap between BYU and SMU.
However, these early matchups can be rather unpredictable, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a matchup between two power conference teams is closer than expected for at least most of the evening. Can QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, and the Cougars can move the ball early? That will tell the tale. From this perspective, some early points do look likely based on what both offenses are capable of.
In the end, however, SMU should be able to eke out the cover even if they do get a challenge from the Cougars.
BYU vs SMU Prediction: SMU to win
BYU vs SMU Expert Picks: 1) SMU -11.5, 2) BYU/SMU first quarter over 12.5 points (-120 at BetOnline)
Other College Football Betting Information
Where Can You Bet on College Football This Season?
The 2024 college football season is now underway, and there are a lot of great games to look forward to this season.
At the best U.S. betting sites, you can bet on all of those exciting matchups. Many of these sites also offer Heisman Trophy odds, national championship odds, and other kinds of futures bets.
Are you looking to expand your college football betting options? The below sites are all highly recommended and worth checking out.
5/5 Review Rating 50% up to $1,000
Bonus Details »
$10 Cash Bonus with code “BNEWS”
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
4.2/5 Review Rating 50% up to $1,000
Bonus Details »
Watch Live Games
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
4.4/5 Review Rating 125% Deposit Bonus or $25 Free Bet
Bonus Details »
Best Deposit & Free Play Bonuses
Largest Selection of Sports & Games
4.4/5 Review Rating 50% up to $1,000
Bonus Details »
Odds Open Very Early
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
4/5 Review Rating 50% up to $750
Bonus Details »
Very Fast Payout Times
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
If you are unfamiliar with any of these sites and would like to learn more about them, check out our in-depth sportsbook reviews.
Each of our sportsbook reviews assesses and rates features and factors that many sports bettors look for in an online sportsbook. Some of those features and factors include what kind of sportsbook offers are available, deposit and payout options, and overall user experience.
Other College Football Betting Content
Throughout the 2024 season, we will provide NCAA football betting insight on the top matchups, the latest headlines and storylines, and more.
In addition to that betting insight, we also have numerous sports betting guides designed to help bettors of all experience levels navigate the basics of sports betting, including types of bets (like prop bets and futures bets), betting strategies, and beyond.
Here are some of the guides that can be beneficial for your college football betting this season and beyond.
- College Football Betting Guide
- College Football Odds for Today
- Moneyline vs Spread Betting
- Over/Under Betting Explained
- What Are Futures Bets?
In addition to the content you can find on the site, we are also very active on social media.
Follow Betting News on Social Media
- Betting News on “X”/Twitter
- Betting News on Twitch
- Betting News on TikTok
- Betting News on YouTube
That includes our daily Twitch streams, where we discuss the day’s top matchups and much more.
