Syracuse comes into this game looking to rebound after a rough home loss to Duke, 38–3. The Orange are now on the road, facing a high-powered SMU offense in Dallas. Rickie Collins will again shoulder the passing load after Steve Angeli’s season-ending Achilles injury. Against Duke, Collins threw for 229 yards on 24 of 37 attempts, but failed to reach the end zone. Head coach Fran Brown has emphasized accountability, and Collins reportedly met with the coaching staff to dissect that performance in hopes of a bounce back.
On defense, Syracuse will need to tighten up across the board. SMU’s offense, led by quarterback Kevin Jennings, has leaned on the pass frequently this season. Jennings has thrown for at least 260 yards in every game so far. The Mustangs’ defense has shown cracks when challenged, giving up big yardage to Baylor and TCU in recent weeks. For Syracuse to compete, they’ll need to generate pressure up front and force Jennings into mistakes.
While Syracuse is realistically the underdog, this game offers a kind of reset. If Collins can take strides in accuracy and the Orange defense can disrupt SMU’s timing, Syracuse could keep the game within reach, despite SMU being favored by 17.5.
Syracuse vs. SMU betting preview
Explore the interactive widget below to see the latest spread, over/under, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Syracuse–SMU matchup at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
This prediction and best bet for Saturday’s college football matchup between Syracuse and SMU is from Dimers.com, a trusted source for sports betting analysis. Find all the key details on this game, along with the best available odds from leading sportsbooks nationwide.
Matchup Overview
Teams: Syracuse (3-2, 1-1 ACC) vs. Southern Methodist (2-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Odds
Spread: Southern Methodist favored at -17.5
Total (Over/Under): 58.5
Moneyline Odds: Syracuse +575, Southern Methodist -770
The odds and lines presented in this article are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Expert Prediction: Syracuse vs. SMU
Leveraging advanced data analysis, Dimers ran 10,000 simulations of Saturday’s Syracuse vs. SMU matchup at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The model gives SMU an 86% chance of winning outright, while Syracuse carries just a 14% probability of pulling off the upset.
Syracuse vs. SMU Best Bet
Our top pick for this Week 6 college football matchup is Syracuse +17.5 (-110). While the Mustangs are favored to win comfortably, the Orange have shown enough resilience to potentially keep the scoreline inside the number. SMU has yet to cover the spread so far this season (0-4 ATS).
This recommendation is based on Dimers’ model, which highlights value in taking the points with Syracuse compared to the market odds.
Score Prediction: Syracuse vs. SMU
Dimers’ projected final score has SMU defeating Syracuse 37–20. This outcome reflects the statistical edge SMU holds offensively, but it also underscores why Syracuse covering the +17.5 spread stands out as the sharper play.
NCAAF Week 6: Syracuse vs. SMU
Saturday’s action kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET in Dallas. All predictions and best bets here are based on 10,000 model-driven simulations of the Syracuse–SMU matchup. As always, remember to wager responsibly and check for updated odds before placing any bets.