Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Virginia Cavaliers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 23rd 2024

Preview and Prediction

Newcomer SMU, a team in the league, has the opportunity to secure a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game when they face off against Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Va.

The No. 13 Mustangs (9-1, 6-0) are currently on a seven-game winning streak and are the only team in the 17-team conference to remain undefeated in league play. The winner of the ACC championship will automatically earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Heading into their first-ever meeting with Virginia (5-5, 3-3), SMU boasts a perfect 4-0 record on the road. On the other hand, Virginia has struggled in their recent games, losing four out of their last five and not winning at Scott Stadium since October 5th when they defeated Boston College.

The Cavaliers are in need of one more win in order to have a chance at their first bowl game since the 2019 season.

Last week, SMU faced a tough challenge as they were trailing in the third quarter before ultimately pulling out a 38-28 win against Boston College at home.

This was the third time the Mustangs have won by a margin of 10 points or less in ACC play, with previous close victories against then-No. 22 Louisville (34-27) on October 5th and a 28-27 overtime win against Duke on October 26th.

"These are the toughest games to win," said Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee. "I think our team did a great job of staying focused and understanding that our goal is to win. As the season progresses and the games become more important, it will only get harder and harder."

Quarterback Kevin Jennings had an impressive performance against Boston College, throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Brashard Smith also had a standout game, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown, bringing his season total to 1,026 yards.

The close call against Boston College served as a reminder to the Mustangs that anything can happen on game day.

"The exciting thing about college football right now is that every week you see a team lose that wasn't expected to lose," said SMU safety Isaiah Nwokobia, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. "On any given week, you could lose if you're not prepared."

Next up, SMU will face off against a Virginia team coming off a 35-14 loss to another College Football Playoff hopeful, Notre Dame. The Cavaliers struggled with turnovers in the first half, giving up five and falling behind 35-0 before backup quarterback Tony Muskett scored two rushing touchdowns.

In order to have a chance at pulling off an upset, Virginia will need to take better care of the ball against a strong SMU defense that has only allowed 17 points off of 17 turnovers this season.

"You can't expect to beat a top-10 team when you're turning the ball over," said Cavaliers coach Tony Elliott after the loss to then-No. 8 Notre Dame.

Elliott will have to make a decision at quarterback for their final two games against SMU and rival Virginia Tech on November 30th. Starter Anthony Colandrea was benched after throwing three interceptions in the first half against Notre Dame. He currently has 12 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 10 starts this season. Muskett, a graduate student who started six games last season, has completed 65% of his passes for 367 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in six appearances this season.

"We're fighting and scrapping for a chance at postseason play," said Elliott. "That's been a major goal for our team. We'll do whatever gives us the best opportunity to achieve that goal."

PREDICTION

Southern Methodist Mustangs

Virginia Cavaliers

Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Virginia Cavaliers Recap NOV 23TH 2024

Kevin Jennings passed for 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as No. 13 SMU added to its case to be a part of the College Football Playoff with a 33-7 win over Virginia on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup in Charlottesville, Va.

The Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 ACC) have won eight straight games and clinched a berth in the ACC championship game against either Miami or Clemson in their first year in the league. The winner of the ACC championship earns an automatic berth in the 12-team CFP.

Jennings hit on 25 of his 33 passed as SMU outgained the Cavaliers 434-173 and averaged 6.4 yards per snap.

Anthony Colandrea passed for 108 yards and a score for Virginia (5-6, 3-4 ACC), which has lost five of its past six games. The Cavaliers need to win at Virginia Tech on Nov. 30 to play in their first bowl game since the 2019 season.

The Mustangs struck first as Brashard Smith scored on a 4-yard run. It came seven minutes into the game at the end of a 78-yard, seven-play march.

Both teams missed field goals in the second quarter, with Collin Rogers pulling a 48-yard attempt for SMU on the opening play of the period, and the Cavaliers' Will Bettridge missing from 41 yards at the 9:19 mark.

SMU added to its advantage when Jennings hit Jordan Hudson on a 17-yard catch and run with 5:52 to play before halftime. That was more than enough time for Rogers to make amends for his earlier miss when hit a 35-yard field goal with 1:25 left in the second quarter.

Rogers converted again, this time from 39 yards, on the Mustangs' opening possession of the third quarter to extend the lead to 20-0. Jennings then made it 26-0 with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 12:21 left in the game. It capped a 14-play, 74-yard drive that chewed up more than seven minutes.

Virginia finally lit the scoreboard on Colandrea's scrambling 4-yard scoring pass to Malachi Fields on fourth-and-goal with 4:16 left. Jennings capped the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown throw to Matthew Hibner with 1:42 to play.