Florida St. Seminoles vs
SMU MustangsPredictions & Preview

Florida State Faces Uphill Battle Against SMU in ACC Matchup, Seminoles Look to Extend Defensive Dominance

Florida State continues to struggle in the 2024 college football season as they face off against SMU in Texas. The Seminoles will enter the game as underdogs with a 1-3 record, while the Mustangs are sitting at 3-1 and coming off a strong offensive showing against TCU. The game is set for Saturday, September 28 at 7 PM CST at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, where SMU is favored to win by 6.5 points.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Seminoles +195 | Mustangs -230
• Spread: Seminoles +6.5 (-110) | Mustangs -6.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 47.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that SMU will win straight-up is 70%.

Florida St. vs SMU Stats

Florida St. Seminoles

Florida State's football team is struggling to find their identity after a tough 2023 season that left them outside of the playoffs due to an injury to their star quarterback. However, they showed improvement with a recent victory over Cal, thanks in large part to a strong defensive performance with 7 sacks. Transfer QB DJ Uiagalelei is still adjusting and needs to improve his performance if the Seminoles are to have a successful season. Their defense is allowing an average of 363 yards and 20 points per game, while the offense is scoring just 15.33 points per game. The team is also struggling on third downs and time of possession, but their place kicker Ryan Fitzgerald continues to excel. Their power ranking is 58, with a ranking of 124 in offense, #83 in defense, and a 1-3 record for the season.

SMU Mustangs Analysis

SMU started the 2024 season strong following an impressive 2023 campaign, where they won both the AAC regular season Championship and the Conference Championship game against Tulane. The team maintained a scoring differential of 17.2 and averaged 36.4 points per game. Moving to the ACC, the Mustangs will face a tougher schedule with 10 Power 4 opponents, against whom they struggled last season. However, they secured a convincing win against TCU in their latest matchup, with RB Brashard Smith standing out with an impressive performance. QB Kevin Jennings has been efficient, taking over as the starting QB from Preston Stone. The defense also shined in the recent game, forcing 5 turnovers and scoring 3 touchdowns. Despite some challenges in the red zone and a low sack count, the defense is performing well overall. SMU currently holds a power ranking of 10 and ranks #43 for offense and #44 for defense. Florida St. has not been successful in their recent matchups against SMU.

Florida State Looks to Extend Defensive Dominance Against SMU in ACC Matchup

In SMU's inaugural ACC conference match, the Mustangs seek to make a significant impact on the program. Facing a formidable Florida State team fresh off a solid defensive showing, the Seminoles are poised to continue their defensive prowess on the road following a string of home games. The defensive unit aims to disrupt the rhythm of SMU's new starting quarterback, Kevin Jennings, with a focus on shutting down the running game. With Florida State ranking third nationally in sacks per game at 3.2, their defensive capabilities are expected to pose a challenge for SMU's offense. Considering SMU's previous struggle to score against BYU, with only 15 points coming from field goals, the odds favor Florida State as they face a team with a new quarterback. In a potentially low-scoring match-up, a 5.5-point advantage for Florida State seems favorable. Consequently, the safer bet is on FSU +5.5.

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