The Week 2 college football schedule gets underway Friday as the BYU Cougars and the SMU Mustangs square off at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Last season, the Cougars struggled immensely on the road, logging a 1-5 record. On the flip side, SMU defended its home turf, going 6-0. These schools matched up in the 2022 New Mexico Bowl. BYU narrowly topped SMU 24-23.
Kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The Mustangs are 13-point favorites in the latest BYU vs. SMU odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 55.5, up from opening at 52.5. Before making any SMU vs. BYU picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on BYU vs. SMU and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college football odds and betting trends for SMU vs. BYU:
- BYU vs. SMU spread: Mustangs -13
- BYU vs. SMU over/under: 55.5 points
- BYU vs. SMU money line: Mustangs -488, Cougars +366
- BYU: BYU has hit the 1H money line in four of its past nine games
- SMU: SMU has hit the 1H Under in 10 of its last 13 games
- BYU vs. SMU picks: See picks here
Why SMU can cover
Junior tight end RJ Maryland is an athletic playmaker for this offense. The Texas native thrives attacking the seams and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. In 2024, he’s racked up nine catches for 173 yards, and one score. Through his SMU career, Maryland amassed 71 catches for 987 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Safety Isaiah Nwokobia provides SMU with an instinctive and alert defender in the secondary. Nwokobia attacks downhill and is a willing tackler who has impressive awareness in coverage. Through two games, the Texas native leads the team in total tackles with 14. Junior defensive end Isaiah Smith generates pressure and causes havoc in the backfield. The Washington DC native has 41 total stops and 10 sacks in his SMU career thus far. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why BYU can cover
The Cougars are looking to keep the ground attack rolling. In the season-opening win, BYU finished with 179 rushing yards and two rushing scores. Sophomore running back LJ Martin is a decisive runner who has the power to barrel through defenders. The Texas native had a team-high 67 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry and one touchdown.
Senior running back Hinckley Ropati is an additional force in the backfield. Ropati is stout and wears out defenses with his 220-pound frame. The California native finished with 57 yards and one touchdown in his previous outing. As a pass-catcher, junior receiver Keelan Marion stretches the field and tracks the deep ball well. In the season opener, he racked up three catches for 61 yards. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make SMU vs. BYU picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 69 points. It also says one side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time. You can see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins BYU vs. SMU, and which side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since its inception, and find out.
