BYU vs SMU Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

BYU got off to a nice start with a 41-13 win over Southern Illinois, SMU got on track with a blowout over Houston Christian to get to 2-0, and now these two play an interesting Friday night game that will go a long way to figuring out the bowl pecking orders in their respective conferences.

It’s a new era now - BYU and SMU are Power 4 programs. So before you dive into the NFL in Brazil stuff tonight …

BYU vs SMU Preview

BYU vs SMU How to Watch
Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
How to Watch: ESPN2
SMU (2-0), BYU (1-0)
- Week 2 Schedule, Predictions
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
5 Underrated | 5 Overrated
5 Top Week 1 Takeaways
Heisman Race & Top 10 Players

Why BYU Will Win

It’s just one game against an FCS team, but BYU’s offense and passing game had the look last week. Jake Retzlaff rolled for 348 yards and three scores, the ground attack was decent, and there wasn’t any drama.

Yeah, SMU was able to beat up an FCS team of its own, but it sputtered and coughed way too much in the opener against Nevada.


There’s still a Prove It factor here with the Mustangs. The team is fine, but the offense now has to deal with a BYU front that got into the SIU backfield, but …

Why SMU Will Win

The BYU lines are still suspect.

To repeat this, it was Game One. However, the Cougar offensive line was just okay at banging away and allowed way too much pressure, and the defensive front allowed close to five yards per carry.

SMU might have found its offensive legs. It kicked in late against Nevada and was there throughout against Houston Christian. For this O, the two games of tune-up matters.

BYU vs SMU: Who Will Win

SMU at home as an ACC team on a Friday night - it won’t be Ann Arbor on Saturday vs Texas, but it’ll be an interesting environment.

The Mustang offense will be too sharp and too fast. BYU’s offense will keep up just enough to make this a game throughout, but SMU will won’t lose its serve in the second half as it pulls slightly ahead early in the fourth quarter and then hangs on.

BYU vs SMU Prediction, Betting Lines

SMU 34, BYU 26
Line: SMU -11.5, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
BYU vs SMU Must See Rating: 3

CFN Expert Picks, Week 2
BYU at SMU | Duke at NW
Texas at Mich | Iowa St at Iowa
S Carolina at UK | Mich St at MD
USF at Bama | Kansas at Illinois
WMU at Ohio St | Tenn at NC St
Colorado at Neb | Houston at OU
Boise St at Oregon | TTech at Wash St
Miss St at ASU | Utah State at USC