The SMU Mustangs (-19.5) and Connecticut Huskies are ready to go at it on the grass at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. ESPN 3 will televise the action and kickoff will take place at 12:00 p.m. ET.
SMU Mustangs vs. Connecticut Huskies Betting Preview
Connecticut is projected as the underdog and is currently getting 19.5 points in this Saturday AAC game. If they are wanting to take the moneyline, bettors would currently have to put up $1,700 in order to win $100 back on the Mustangs (-1700). The Huskies are getting +875 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 65 points, and based on how it’s shaping up, there should be some good live betting possibilities in this game.
Sharp bettors have been hammering both the Mustangs and the over. The game’s opening line was originally set at 18 and the O/U was initially only 63.5.
The profitable Mustangs have recorded 8.0 units so far and are 5-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 4-5. The Huskies have lost 2.0 units this season. The team is 2-7 ATS and owns an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Mustangs are 4-5 straight up (SU), including 3-2 SU against conference opponents. The Huskies are 1-8 SU overall and 0-5 SU in conference play.
The Mustangs hope to make it two in a row 45-31 victory over Houston last week. The Mustangs defense allowed the Cougars to run for 190 yards on 47 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Offensively, Ben Hicks completed 28 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Ke’Mon Freeman (107 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) and Braeden West (53 yards on nine carries) led the ground attack while James Proche (nine receptions, 90 yards, one TD) and Reggie Roberson, Jr. (nine catches, 134 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
A week ago, Tulsa knocked off this Connecticut team by a score of 49-19. David Pindell completed 14-of-28 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Pindell (150 rushing yards on 23 attempts) and Kevin Mensah (67 yards on 17 carries) handled the running game as Kyle Buss (six receptions, 129 yards, one TD) and Zavier Scott (four catches, 22 yards) led the Connecticut pass-catchers in the loss.
SMU has run the ball on 47.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Connecticut has an overall rush percentage of 59.3 percent. The Mustangs have rushed for 109 yards per game (including 99 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 10 scores on the ground this year. The Huskies are averaging 203 rush yards per game (202 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Mustangs offense has tallied 258 yards/contest through the air overall (268 per game versus conference opposition) and has 23 passing TDs so far. The Huskies have put up 183 pass yards per game (205.4 against AAC competition) and have 12 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, SMU should have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 184 rush yards and 231 pass yards per game. The Connecticut defense has given up 293.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 333.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Mustangs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.42 to opponents, while the Huskies have given up an ugly 11.81 ANY/A.
Offensively, Hicks is up to 1,315 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 112-of-199 attempts with 13 passing scores and only three interceptions. He has a 6.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 7.87 over the last two outings.
Reggie Roberson, Jr., James Proche and Braeden West have collectively accounted for 576 total yards and four touchdowns over the last two outings.
For the home team, David Pindell has connected on 130-of-222 passes for 1,487 yards, 11 TDs and seven INTs. Pindell’s ANY/A sits at 5.60 for the year and 4.95 across his past two games.
We also expect the Connecticut offense to mix it up this Saturday. David Pindell, Kevin Mensah and Kyle Buss have combined for 550 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the last two games.
When these two programs met last year, SMU knocked off Connecticut by three touchdowns 49-28.
NCAA Tip: SMU Mustangs at Connecticut Huskies
SU Winner – SMU, ATS Winner – Connecticut, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The SMU defensive unit has twice as many sacks as Connecticut this year (20 to 10).
The Connecticut offense has lost nine fumbles in 2018 while the SMU offense has lost five.
The Mustangs offense has produced 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Huskies have accounted for four such plays.
The SMU defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while Connecticut has given up 10 such plays.
The SMU offense has created nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Connecticut has created 14 such runs.
The Mustangs defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Huskies have given up 38 such runs.
The O/U for Connecticut’s last outing was 59.5. The over cashed in the 49-19 loss to Tulsa.
Over its last three games, Connecticut is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matchups, SMU is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for SMU’s last game was set at 71.5. The over cashed in the team’s 45-31 win over Houston.
SMU has produced 2.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.4 over its last two.
Connecticut has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.4 over its past two.
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