Halloween at noon in the Dome: No. 19 SMU makes its first road trip since Sept. 19, about 1,320 miles, to face a 3-4 Syracuse team that has made a habit of close games. I'm taking the Orange and the 8.5 points. Syracuse doesn't get blown out by FBS teams. Five of its six FBS games were decided by 8 or fewer, including overtime wins at UNC and UConn. SMU beat Florida State by 3 and lost at Louisville by 10 in its two road games. It also hosts Virginia Tech next Friday, six days from now. A ranked team in that spot usually takes the win and gets home. The matchup points the same way. SMU allowed 219 rushing yards at FSU and 265 at Louisville. Syracuse has become a running team: 207 yards on 48 carries at UNC, with Ahmad Miller going for 133 and 123 in the last two games. Syracuse has won time of possession in all seven games. Long drives mean fewer SMU possessions, and that makes a 9-point win harder to get. Common opponents back it up. SMU beat Virginia by 10 at home, while Syracuse lost there by 3 after leading 17-7 at the half. SMU lost at Louisville by 10, and Syracuse lost to Louisville by 8. Both Syracuse games came with Malachi Nelson at quarterback. Steve Angeli is back now after a clean day at UNC: 20-of-34, 256 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. Fran Brown says Angeli is "finally back to himself a little bit more." The risks are real. SMU crushed Cal 59-20, while Syracuse lost to Cal at home with 14 penalties and three Angeli interceptions. Angeli has 5 picks in 4 starts. Syracuse has scored 11 touchdowns on 25 red-zone trips against FBS teams, and Shay Barker is 1 of 5 from 40 yards or longer. Syracuse has also been outscored 34-13 in third quarters against FBS opponents. And starting DB Jai Eugene Jr. is out against Kevin Jennings, who hasn't thrown an interception in three games. But SMU has to win by 9 on the road, and it hasn't done that yet this season. Give me Syracuse plus the points.
Halloween at noon in the Dome: No. 19 SMU makes its first road trip since Sept. 19, about 1,320 miles, to face a 3-4 Syracuse team that has made a habit of close games. I'm taking the Orange and the 8.5 points.
Syracuse doesn't get blown out by FBS teams. Five of its six FBS games were decided by 8 or fewer, including overtime wins at UNC and UConn. SMU beat Florida State by 3 and lost at Louisville by 10 in its two road games. It also hosts Virginia Tech next Friday, six days from now. A ranked team in that spot usually takes the win and gets home.
The matchup points the same way. SMU allowed 219 rushing yards at FSU and 265 at Louisville. Syracuse has become a running team: 207 yards on 48 carries at UNC, with Ahmad Miller going for 133 and 123 in the last two games. Syracuse has won time of possession in all seven games. Long drives mean fewer SMU possessions, and that makes a 9-point win harder to get.
Common opponents back it up. SMU beat Virginia by 10 at home, while Syracuse lost there by 3 after leading 17-7 at the half. SMU lost at Louisville by 10, and Syracuse lost to Louisville by 8. Both Syracuse games came with Malachi Nelson at quarterback. Steve Angeli is back now after a clean day at UNC: 20-of-34, 256 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. Fran Brown says Angeli is "finally back to himself a little bit more."
The risks are real. SMU crushed Cal 59-20, while Syracuse lost to Cal at home with 14 penalties and three Angeli interceptions. Angeli has 5 picks in 4 starts. Syracuse has scored 11 touchdowns on 25 red-zone trips against FBS teams, and Shay Barker is 1 of 5 from 40 yards or longer. Syracuse has also been outscored 34-13 in third quarters against FBS opponents. And starting DB Jai Eugene Jr. is out against Kevin Jennings, who hasn't thrown an interception in three games.
But SMU has to win by 9 on the road, and it hasn't done that yet this season. Give me Syracuse plus the points.
Syracuse +8.5