It’s a battle of teams with three-letter abbreviations, as SMU is set to face BYU in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday. Dec. 17. The game is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET while airing on ABC. The SMU Mustangs enter this game as 3.5-point favorites with the total set at 64.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the SMU vs. BYU prediction while looking at the New Mexico Bowl odds below.
New Mexico Bowl Odds
- Spread: SMU -3.5
- Total: 64.5
Odds via WynnBET. Check out our exclusive WynnBET Promo Code to redeem your $100 risk-free bet today!
Game Info
- Date: Saturday. Dec. 17
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Location: University Stadium – Albuquerque, NM
- TV: ABC
SMU Betting Trends
- The Mustangs are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in the Mustangs last 6 Bowl games.
- Under is 4-1 in the Mustangs last 5 neutral site games.
BYU Betting Trends
- The Cougars are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
- The Cougars are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 bowl games.
- Over is 7-1 in the Cougars last 8 non-conference games.
SMU vs. BYU Prediction
This game will likely hinge on the status of BYU QB Jaren Hall, who is highly questionable with an ankle injury. If Hall is out, then the Cougars will likely need to rely on the rushing attack to keep pace with SMU’s high-scoring offense. That’s something BYU is comfortable doing, as the Cougars have posted 5.3 yards per rush this season (No. 11 in the nation), and SMU ranks 122nd in the country at 5.2 yards per carry allowed. The Mustangs are also 124th in the nation in terms of overall rushing defense.
That could be the key in this game, as BYU is a legitimate “running underdog” in this contest. The Cougars could run the ball efficiently, control the pace of this game, and keep the SMU offense off the field. Hall’s questionable status is already baked into the spread, so let’s take BYU plus the points. It will be a nice bonus if Hall is healthy and playing, but the Cougars should be able to keep this one close while contending for an outright win even if he’s out.
The Pick: BYU +3.5 | -110 at WynnBET