Boston College (5-4, 2-3 ACC) is set to face off against No. 14 SMU (8-1, 5-0) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST, with the game televised on ESPN. The current betting odds from BetMGM indicate that SMU is favored by 18.5 points. Historically, the two teams are knotted at one win each in their previous encounters.
The stakes are high for SMU as they sit alone at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. By winning the conference championship game, they could secure a spot in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in their inaugural season after transitioning from the Group of Five. SMU has been on a hot streak, winning six consecutive games since their only defeat against No. 7 BYU, who currently remains undefeated and leads the Big 12. Meanwhile, Boston College aims to achieve bowl eligibility in coach Bill O’Brien’s first season and is approaching their final road matchup, having bested SMU 23-14 in the Fenway Bowl last December, which halted the Mustangs’ nine-game winning run.
One of the tonight’s key battles will be between Kye Robichaux and Boston College’s ground game against SMU’s formidable defense, which ranks first in the ACC and fifth nationally, allowing only 90 rushing yards per game and an impressive 2.77 yards per carry. Last week, Robichaux showcased his skills by rushing for 198 yards, with teammate Jordan McDonald contributing 133 yards, leading the Eagles to a season-high total of 313 rushing yards in a victory over Syracuse.
In terms of standout players, Boston College will rely on Grayson James, a transfer from FIU who has taken over as their starting quarterback following Thomas Castellanos’ injury. James made a notable performance on September 28, when he guided BC to a comeback victory against Western Kentucky during his only start. Last week against Syracuse, he stepped in during the second half, completing 5 of 6 passes for 51 yards and tossing a touchdown.
On the other hand, SMU’s Brashard Smith is a player to watch; he is the only athlete in the FBS with at least 700 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards, and 200 yards on kickoff returns. He contributed significantly to the Mustangs’ 48-25 victory over Pittsburgh before their bye week, accumulating 161 rushing yards and scoring twice along with a spectacular catch for another touchdown.
In terms of statistics, SMU is currently riding a 14-game winning streak in regular-season conference play, including their last nine in the American Athletic Conference dating back to 2022. Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, a defensive end, has been impressive with an average of 1.22 sacks per game, ranking second in the ACC and fourth in the nation. Additionally, SMU has been an explosive offensive team, averaging an impressive 50.4 points per game over their last 13 home games, with the sole loss this season to BYU seeing them score only through field goals in an 18-15 defeat.