Late finish in Syracuse
SMU’s four-game winning run ended with a 30-27 loss at Syracuse. The Orange scored the winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining.
College Football team briefing / WagerBird research desk
SMU Mustangs
The matchup. The market. The case for your next move.
Results, schedule and game-day research ·
Season record5–2Lost last game
Against the spread2–4At the closing number
Last 5 games
WWWWL
Oldest to newest →In play
Hokies at Mustangs
In playHokies at Mustangs
Q2 07:58Mustangs −6Total 56.5Mustangs ML −219
Live score and clock. Tonight’s pick is graded at the final and posts below.
This briefing was written before this game. Its pregame notes are dated below.
Next Mustangs pick
Hokies at Mustangs
Fri Nov 6 · 6:00 PM CT · 7:00 PM ET · released and locked
73
Signal strength
3.5 units
Signal strength 73, released before kickoff with its price locked.
73
The pick is locked.Game pick · price locked at release
Tonight’s pick is in play. It is graded at the final and posts below.
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Hokies at Mustangs odds
Prices by sportsbook post when the sportsbooks open the next game.
Sportsbook prices have not been published for this matchup.
Line movement
vs Virginia Tech HokiesFri Nov 6 · 6:00 PM CT · 7:00 PM ET
Lines as of : the Mustangs spread is −6, where it opened; the total is 56.5 (opened 56).
Mustangs spread−6−6No move
Total5656.5+0.5
Mustangs team total30.530.5No move
Mustangs money line−226−219+7
Open, then now.
Results and against the spread
5–2 · 2–4 ATSRecord
5–2
Against the spread
2–4
Form, last 5
WWWWL
Last game
L 27-30at Orange
| Date | Game | Result | Spread | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 10/31 | at Syracuse Orange | L 27-30 | −8 | Missed |
| Sat 10/24 | vs California Golden Bears | W 59-20 | −18.5 | Covered |
| Sat 10/17 | vs Virginia Cavaliers | W 23-13 | −8.5 | Covered |
| Sat 10/3 | vs Boston College Eagles | W 25-16 | −21 | Missed |
| Sat 9/26 | vs Missouri State Bears | W 34-24 | −30.5 | Missed |
Spread is the Mustangs’ closing number. ATS is against the spread at the closing number.
Schedule
vs DeaconsFri 11/13 · 11:00 PM CT12:00 AM ET
at IrishSat 11/21 · 6:30 PM CT7:30 PM ET
at CardinalFri 11/27 · 11:00 PM CT12:00 AM ET
Research archive
Pregame briefing
Written Fri Nov 6, before the Hokies game. These notes describe that game, including its injuries and projected starters.
Read the Hokies briefing · Fri 11/6
Dated research · archived briefing
Archived Mustangs research
Written Fri Nov 6, before the Hokies game.
SMU enters the home game at 5-2, with a 4-0 mark at home and a 1-2 record on the road. The Mustangs opened with a 27-24 win at Florida State, then beat Missouri State, Boston College, Virginia and California. They lost at Louisville and Syracuse. The 59-20 result against California followed a 42-0 second half; the latest game ended in a 30-27 loss after Syracuse scored late.
Kevin Jennings has been a central part of the offense. Freshman Christian Rhodes also scored twice in the California game.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee leads a staff that lists Rob Likens, Garin Justice and D’Eriq King as co-offensive coordinators, and Maurice Crum Jr. and Rickey Hunley Jr. as co-defensive coordinators. The projected lineup has Jennings at quarterback and Raphael at running back. With Ira Singleton IV listed out, the depth chart puts Marques White behind him at right defensive end.
The latest availability report lists nine Mustangs out and Moses questionable. It provides no injury diagnoses or return dates. The projected lineup also has experienced contributors across the offense, including receiver Yamir Knight and center Joshua Bates. The team’s recent results include a 23-13 win over Virginia and a 25-16 win over Boston College, followed by the California win and Syracuse loss.
Season at time of writing
SMU is 5-2, with a 4-0 home record and a 1-2 road record. The Mustangs have won at Florida State and beaten Missouri State, Boston College, Virginia and California; their losses came at Louisville and Syracuse. They scored 59 against California and 23 against Virginia, while allowing 41 at Louisville and 30 at Syracuse.
The news
Second-half surge against California
SMU trailed California at halftime, then scored touchdowns on its first six drives after the break. The Mustangs scored 42 unanswered points in the second half of their 59-20 win.
Jennings and Raphael lead the offense
Kendrick Raphael rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the loss at Louisville.
Availability reshapes the defense
The latest report lists nine SMU players out, including defensive end Ira Singleton IV and safety Tyren Polley Jr., and marks safety Ahmaad Moses questionable. With Singleton listed out, Marques White is the next RDE on the projected depth chart.
Injuries
Injury report as of : 10 Mustangs and 10 Hokies on the report.
Mustangs
- Ira Singleton IVPosition is listed as DE; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Tyren Polley Jr.Position is listed as S; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Carterrious BrownPosition is listed as WR; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Jaelyn Davis-RobinsonPosition is listed as CB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Trey WilsonPosition is listed as DE; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Link RhodesPosition is listed as RB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- I'Zayah YoungPosition is listed as LB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Xavier WrightPosition is listed as LB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- +2 more · full report in the Terminal
Hokies
- Shamarius PeterkinPosition is listed as WR; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Thomas WilliamsPosition is listed as CB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- George BallancePosition is listed as LB; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Randy AdirikaPosition is listed as DL; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Nathaniel WrightPosition is listed as OL; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Lucas AustinPosition is listed as OL; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Justin TerryPosition is listed as OL; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- Marlen BrightPosition is listed as OL; status is out. The report gives no diagnosis or return date.Out
- +2 more · full report in the Terminal
The matchup
Mustangs projected starters
- Kevin JenningsQB
- Kendrick RaphaelRB
- Jalen Cooper (WR-X)
- Yannick Smith (WR-Z)
- Yamir Knight (slot)
- Randy Pittman Jr.TE
- Drew EversLT
- Sam UtuLG
- Joshua BatesC
- Addison NicholsRG
- PJ WilliamsRT
- Aakil WashingtonLDE
- Malcolm Alcorn-CrowderLDT
- Christian DavisRDT
- Marques WhiteRDE
- Alexander KilgoreWLB
- Brandon BookerMLB
- Jayvon ThomasLCB
- Sael ReyesSS
- Jimmy WyrickFS
- Marcellus Barnes Jr.RCB
- Jarvis LeeNB
Hokies projected starters
- Ethan GrunkemeyerQB
- Marcellous Hawkins Jr.RB
- Marlion Jackson (WR-X)
- Ayden Greene (WR-Z)
- Que'Sean Brown (slot)
- Luke ReynoldsTE
- Logan HowlandLT
- Layth GhannamLG
- Kyle AltunerC
- Montavious CunninghamRG
- Aidan LynchRT
- Aycen StevensLDE
- Elhadj FallLDT
- Kemari CopelandRDT
- Cortez HarrisRDE
- Keon WylieWLB
- Noah ChambersMLB
- Kaleb SpencerSLB
- Jaquez WhiteLCB
- Tyson FlowersSS
- Quentin ReddishFS
- Joshua ClarkeRCB
- Isaiah Brown-MurrayNB
Updated How we grade
Written by the WagerBird research team from our own results, line captures and graded picks. Updated . How we grade →
Our Mustangs picks, graded
Wins and losses6–2 on Mustangs games this season · 75.0%
- 73Full Game Game Total: Under 53.5 −110Sat 10/24loss
- 62Full Game Game Total: Under 54.5 −110Sat 10/17win+3 pts
- 62Full Game Player Prop: Kevin Jennings Rushing Yards under 17.5 −118Sat 10/3win
- 66Full Game Player Prop: Javarius Green Receiving Yards under 35.5 −114Sat 10/3loss
- 681st Half Game Total: Under 30.5 −110Sat 10/3win+1 pt
- 721st Half Spread: Missouri State Bears +20.5 −102Sat 9/26win+2 pts
- 45Full Game Game Total: Over 58.5 −108Sat 9/19win
- 75Full Game Team Total: SMU Mustangs Under 27.5 −105Mon 9/7win
The orange number is Signal strength. CLV compares our price with the closing price at the same sportsbook; shown when it is in our favor. How we grade
Mustangs questions, answered
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