SMU Mustangs vs Syracuse Orange Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 10/31/2026

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, October 31, 2026

Venue:  JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY

Where to Watch:  ESPN2

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  SMU -9.5, Syracuse +9.5; Over/Under:  58.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  SMU -9.5, Syracuse +9.5; Over/Under:  58.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  SMU -9.5, Syracuse +9.5; Over/Under:  58.5 points

SMU Mustangs:  6-1 (4-1) (2nd place, ACC)

Syracuse Orange:  3-4 (1-4) (17th place, ACC)

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SMU Mustangs:  won their last game at home against the California Golden Bears 59-20.

Syracuse Orange:  won their last game on the road against the North Carolina Tar Heels 31-30 in overtime. 

SMU is entering this game with a 6-1 record overall and they have a 4-1 record in their conference games too. They are 5-0 in their home games, 1-1 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against California 59-20. Kevin Jennings was the starting QB and he completed 16/23 passes for 223 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Kendrick Raphael led the team in rushing yards with 104 and 2 TDs. Jalen Cooper led the receivers with 37 receiving yards on 2 receptions. Brandon Miyazono led the defense in that game with 6 tackles while Brandon Miyazono, Marques White, and William Spencer each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Syracuse is entering this game with a 3-4 record overall and they have a 1-4 record in their conference games too. They are 1-2 in their home games, 2-2 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against North Carolina 31-30 in OT. Steve Angeli was the starting QB and he completed 20/34 passes for 256 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Ahmad Miller led the team in rushing yards with 125 and 1 TD. Umari Hatcher led the receivers with 103 receiving yards on 4 receptions and 1 TD. Zyian Moultrie-Goddard led the defense in that game with 9 tackles while Chris D'Appolonia and Tunmise Adeleye each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have SMU listed as a 9.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. SMU has looked great in their games this season with their 6-1 record overall and their 4-1 conference record which has them right near the top of the ACC. They haven't been a great road team though with their 1-1 road record this year. Meanwhile, Syracuse hasn't looked good in their games this season with their 3-4 record overall and their 1-4 conference record which has them right at the bottom of the ACC. They haven't looked good on their home field either with their 1-2 home record this season. Syracuse is coming off a 31-30 road win over UNC in their last one, but they have looked like one of the worst teams in the ACC all year. They finally had a good game on offense against North Carolina, but that hasn't been a common theme for them all season and their defense hasn't looked that good either, giving up a lot of points. SMU is coming off a 59-20 win over California in their last one and that was a game in which they trailed early on, but once they got going they took a lead and never even looked back. SMU doesn't have a great defense themselves, but their offense has been one of the best in the ACC all season and they have an offense that can bail their defense out of games. Their only loss was against Louisville in a shootout, but Syracuse isn't the kind of team that they are going to get into a shootout with. SMU has been rolling lately and they have the potential to get back to the CFP this year with the way things are falling in the ACC. Look for SMU to bring their best effort here to keep themselves in the playoff conversation as their offense should overpower Syracuse here with no issues. The best way to place a bet here is on SMU to cover the spread in this game. 

SMU Syracuse Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 31, 2026 (12:00 pm ET start time) is SMU 42 Syracuse 20.

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SMU Mustangs: 11-5 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 6-1 ATS after a 2 game home stand. 9-3 ATS vs. good passing teams averaging 250 or more passing yards/game. 8-1 OVER off a home win by 17 points or more. 8-4 OVER after scoring 37 points or more last game.

Syracuse Orange: 3-6 ATS when the total is between 56.5 and 63. 0-6 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 3-7 ATS versus good offensive teams - averaging 425 yards/game or more. 11-2 OVER when playing against a team with a winning record. 10-2 OVER vs. good teams - outscoring opponents by 10+ PPG on the season.

SMU Mustangs:  T. Polley Jr. (S) Out - Pectoral. M. Uter (TE) Questionable - Undisclosed. N. Reed (K) Questionable - Undisclosed. C. Reed (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Green (RB) Out - Hand. I. Singleton IV (DL) Out - Undisclosed. L. Rhodes (RB) Out - Knee.

Syracuse Orange:  N. Edwards (WR) Out - Undisclosed. A. Odom (QB) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Woody (K) Questionable - Undisclosed. S. Angeli (QB) Questionable - Undisclosed.

“Deservedly so. He just continues to do what he does best, which is win.” - Rhett Lashlee on Kevin Jennings after his team’s win against Cal in their last game. 

“I’m just happy for them, my wife and my children. Syracuse, the city and the alums, we’ve all been waiting for this. We’ve got a weight lifted off our shoulders.” - Fran Brown after his team’s win against UNC in their last game. 

WR Cooper, Jalen

WR Smith, Yannick

WR Knight, Yamir 

TE Pittman Jr., Randy

QB Jennings, Kevin

RB Raphael, Kendrick

WR Hatcher, Umari

WR Weaver, Cole

WR Johnson, Darius

TE Clement, David

QB Angeli, Steve

RB Hill, Tylik

Passing: Kevin Jennings (2,062)

Rushing: Kendrick Raphael (641)

Receiving: Yamir Knight (443)

Touchdowns: Kendrick Raphael (9)

Passing: Steve Angeli (987)

Rushing: Tylik Hill (461)

Receiving: Umari Hatcher (887)

Touchdowns: Umari Hatcher (8)

Coaches:

SMU Mustangs: Rhett Lashlee (5th season)

Syracuse Orange: Fran Brown (3rd season)