Syracuse football has been on a roller-coaster ride the past two games, and now the Orange will head to Dallas to battle SMU in week six.
In week four, the 'Cuse played one of its best games under head coach Fran Brown in handling Clemson on the road in Death Valley. In week five, this past Saturday afternoon before a sellout crowd at the JMA Wireless Dome, Duke dominated the Orange in a 38-3 blowout loss for Syracuse football.
Rickie Collins, a redshirt sophomore, struggled in his first start at quarterback for the 'Cuse. But he wasn't entirely to blame for this ugly setback. The defense was awful, giving up more than 500 total yards as the Blue Devils crushed the Orange on the ground, and 'Cuse defenders weren't sound in their tackling or in pass coverage.
Syracuse football also had some bad turnovers. All in all, it was a game to forget, and Brown has made it clear that he was out-coached by Duke, and his team was out-played, but that this result must be put in the rear-view mirror.
Syracuse football at SMU odds, spread and total
When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the 'Cuse as a massive 14.5-point betting underdog on the road against the Mustangs, with the over/under set at 57.5 points.
Syracuse football at SMU how to watch
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas
TV/Streaming: ACC Network and fuboTV
SMU's record: 2-2 overall, 0-0 in the ACC
Syracuse's record: 3-2 overall, 1-1 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2025 schedule: Click here
Syracuse football at SMU prediction and pick
In the past, the Orange and the Mustangs have only played once. That was back in October of 1932, when Syracuse football fell at home to SMU, 16-6, according to SU Athletics. This Saturday's affair in Dallas will be the programs' first meeting since the Mustangs, California and Stanford joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024.
To date in the 2025 campaign, SMU has beaten East Texas A&M at home and Missouri State on the road. The Mustangs, conversely, lost to Baylor by three points at home in double overtime and also to TCU, 35-24, on the road. In week five, SMU had a bye.
A season ago, the Mustangs reached the ACC championship game and also got a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Ahead of 2025, SMU was picked to finish No. 3 in the ACC, per the league's preseason media poll, while Syracuse football was forecast at No. 12.
Candidly, the Mustangs haven't looked overly impressive this term, but they also have yet to play an ACC game. In particular, SMU's defense, like the Orange's, isn't good. The Mustangs allow the second-most total yards in the ACC and the most passing yards, although SMU against the run is No. 7 in the conference.
It's tough to envision the 'Cuse going on the road and beating the Mustangs after the Orange's week-five dud. Then again, SMU isn't a great team thus far in 2025, either. Since the Mustangs are at home, I'll go with SMU emerging victorious over Syracuse football, 31-20.