No. 22 SMU (6-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will face Duke (6-1, 2-1) this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network. BetMGM has set SMU as the favorite with an 11-point spread in their favor.
Both teams enter this significant clash with unexpected rankings, as they were projected to finish seventh (SMU) and eleventh (Duke) in the preseason. The Mustangs remain undefeated in the ACC, placing them in contention for the title race led by top teams like No. 9 Clemson (5-0) and No. 6 Miami (3-0). Meanwhile, the Blue Devils are not far behind, following closely in pursuit of the leaders and possibly challenging No. 19 Pitt (2-0) as well.
A crucial aspect to monitor in this game will be the battle between Duke’s formidable defensive line and the high-scoring SMU offense. The Mustangs are currently ranked 11th in the nation with an impressive average of 40.7 points scored per game. However, they will be challenged by a defensive unit that ranks within the top 25 nationally for both total and scoring defense. Duke’s aggressive play has allowed them to secure the top spot in the nation for tackles for loss, averaging 9.9 per game, and they also boast the seventh ranking for sacks at 3.43 per game.
On the SMU side, quarterback Kevin Jennings is a key player to watch. In his last four games, he has thrown for eight touchdowns and only one interception, with his most recent performance netting him a career-high 322 passing yards in a decisive 40-10 victory over Stanford. The Mustangs have been perfect with Jennings at the helm, boasting a 4-0 record since he took over starter duties.
For Duke, running back Star Thomas has stepped up significantly, especially with Jacquez Moore unavailable due to injury. Thomas exhibited a powerful running style last week against Florida State, accumulating 88 rushing yards and scoring a touchdown. He has already achieved three 100-yard rushing games this season.
In terms of historical context, SMU’s head coach Rhett Lashlee previously served as the offensive coordinator at Miami during the 2020-2021 seasons when Duke’s Manny Diaz was the head coach there. SMU is currently on an impressive streak, having won eight consecutive road games. The historical matchups between these two teams have resulted in tight scoring; Duke won both previous encounters by marginal scores of 14-7 in 1952 and 14-6 in 1956. Notably, under Diaz’s leadership, Duke has achieved a 6-1 record for the first time since 2015, marking only the fourth time the program has reached this milestone since 1960. Moreover, the Blue Devils have claimed victory in eight of their last nine games dating back to last season.