7:05 pm
November 14

#19 Southern Methodist @ Tulsa

Who will WIN this matchup?

#19 Southern Methodist Mustangs (7-1)

@ Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-1)

 

Current odds:

Southern Methodist Mustangs: (-115)

Tulsa Golden Hurricane: (-105)

 

• The line for this game is SMU by 1 point.

• The American Athletic Conference standings tell an incomplete story, with COVID-related cancellations and postponements not only muddying the title chase but affecting title contenders.

• For No. 19 SMU (7-1, 4-1 AAC), the knee-jerk reaction to its upcoming road game against Tulsa (3-1, 3-0 AAC) on Saturday is that a victory is mandatory. The Mustangs’ lone loss came to front-running Cincinnati, and with the Golden Hurricane sporting an unbeaten conference mark, SMU seemingly can ill-afford a second AAC loss if it maintains designs on a conference crown. But with Tulsa having had six games affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including two cancellations, it’s impossible to predict how the remainder of the season will unfold, particularly for the Mustangs, who already have eight results in the bank and could spend a handful of idle weeks watching the rest of the competition slug it out for league positioning.

• The Mustangs are equally reliant upon talent and maturity to navigate the uncertain waters ahead. Senior quarterback Shane Buechele provides a healthy heaping of both, leading FBS in completions (189), attempts (283) and passing yards (2,581), while ranking sixth in passing touchdowns (20) and 20th in passing efficiency (164.6). Buechele has just three interceptions. The Texas transfer could have a greater profile than he currently sports. If the Mustangs keep winning, their results and the play of their signal-caller will be exceedingly difficult to ignore.

• Tulsa, off to its best conference start in its seven years in the AAC, will play its first game since a 34-30 win over East Carolina on Oct. 30. That contest represented the latest home opener in program history, and the Hurricane had three prior home games either canceled or postponed.

• What amounts to an unbalanced schedule seems to put the Hurricane at a disadvantage. But given the circumstances of this unusual season, Tulsa isn’t complaining.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#19 Southern Methodist Mustangs
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