Could be a bit of a trap game for No. 19 Michigan on Saturday as the Wolverines host SMU. It’s UM’s last non-conference game and ahead of an important Big Ten matchup with Nebraska. MyBookie Sportsbook Oddsmakers still have Michigan as a massive NCAAF odds favorite.
Michigan held an opponent to single-digit points for the first time since similarly allowing just a field goal against Maryland on Nov. 5, 2016. U-M has allowed fewer than 10 points six times in three years under defensive coordinator Don Brown.
Michigan’s offensive line gained some confidence by physically dominating WMU last week and can add to that against SMU, which has given up nearly 460 yards per game this season. SMU’s defensive front seven is better than Western Michigan’s, however. If Patterson is protected, he could have a big day. North Texas quarterback Mason Fine went 40 of 50 for 444 yards against the SMU secondary in Week 1.
Michigan has compiled a 24-5-1 record against teams that currently compete in the American Athletic Conference. U-M has faced seven different schools from the AAC on the gridiron: Cincinnati (1-0), Connecticut (2-0), Houston (3-0), Memphis (1-0), Navy (12-5-1), SMU (1-0) and Tulane (3-0). The Wolverines are 3-0 against AAC schools since the inception of the conference, defeating Connecticut in 2012, UCF in 2016 and Cincinnati last season. All three games were played at Michigan Stadium.
SMU at Michigan NCAA Football Week 3 Odds
In just two games this fall, 1⃣8⃣ walk-ons have taken the field for the Wolverines.
Michigan rewards the guys who took the toughest path possible with opportunity. (🎥: @UMichFootball) pic.twitter.com/fuxwYrICnF — NCAA Football (@NCAAFootball) 13 de septiembre de 2018
- When: Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
- Where: Michigan Stadium
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Stream: BTN2Go
- Radio: TuneIn
- NCAA Football Week 3 Odds: UM -35.5 (Total 53.5)
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 27°C/80°F
- Humidity: 65%
- Precipitation: 3%
- Cloud Cover: 49%
- Wind: 7 mph E
- Stadium Type: Open
All-Time Series
SMU and Michigan will meet for only the second time in history with Michigan holding the 1-0 advantage. The Wolverines defeated the Mustangs, 27-16, in 1963 in Ann Arbor.Why Bet on SMU?
The Mustangs have lost to North Texas and, last week, 42-12 to ranked TCU. Thus, SMU is the only team in the country to face off with two current AP top 20 teams on the non-conference slate in the season’s first three weeks. The Mustangs led 9-0 early in the first home game for coach Sonny Dykes vs. TCU but had just 167 yards total offense after Braeden West’s 51-yard scoring run on the fifth play of the game. West’s 51-yard score was his second 50+ yard touchdown of the season (71-yard TD reception at UNT). West is one of only four FBS players to post a rushing and reception touchdowns of over 50 yards this season, and one of only four active players to have 1,000+ all-purpose yards in each of the last three seasons. Not only does West lead the Mustangs with 108 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) after the first two games of the 2018 season, he is also second on the team with 100 receiving yards off five catches. West has six 100+ yards rushing games in his career and sits 13th on SMU’s all-time list at 2,034 yards. He has 3,676 career all-purpose yards, including 1,091 kick return yards (7th at SMU). Among the AAC, West leads active players in rushing yards. On defense, Patrick Nelson led the Mustangs with a game-high nine tackles vs. TCU, Chris Biggurs registered his first career fumble recovery and Shaine Hailey had his first career interception. QB Ben Hicks sits seventh among FBS active leaders in career passing TDs (54) and 10th for career passing yards. He leads active AAC quarterbacks in completions (540), TDs (54; tied with Milton, UCF) and yards (6,862).Why Bet on Michigan?
Michigan is 1-1 to open the 2018 season and is coming off a 49-3 victory over Western Michigan. Michigan posted 21 points and 208 yards of offense in the first quarter, including 167 rushing with 140 from senior running back Karan Higdon. The last time U-M scored 21 points in the first quarter was against Illinois in 2016. Higdon’s 140 rushing yards in the first quarter were the most by a Wolverine in a single quarter since Denard Robinson ran for 152 yards in the first quarter against Notre Dame in 2010. Junior quarterback Shea Patterson completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 125 yards and three touchdowns in his first appearance at home in Michigan Stadium. His first Michigan touchdown pass was a 17-yard completion to junior tight end Sean McKeon.
Michigan held an opponent to single-digit points for the first time since similarly allowing just a field goal against Maryland on Nov. 5, 2016. U-M has allowed fewer than 10 points six times in three years under defensive coordinator Don Brown.
Michigan’s offensive line gained some confidence by physically dominating WMU last week and can add to that against SMU, which has given up nearly 460 yards per game this season. SMU’s defensive front seven is better than Western Michigan’s, however. If Patterson is protected, he could have a big day. North Texas quarterback Mason Fine went 40 of 50 for 444 yards against the SMU secondary in Week 1.
Michigan has compiled a 24-5-1 record against teams that currently compete in the American Athletic Conference. U-M has faced seven different schools from the AAC on the gridiron: Cincinnati (1-0), Connecticut (2-0), Houston (3-0), Memphis (1-0), Navy (12-5-1), SMU (1-0) and Tulane (3-0). The Wolverines are 3-0 against AAC schools since the inception of the conference, defeating Connecticut in 2012, UCF in 2016 and Cincinnati last season. All three games were played at Michigan Stadium.
Colorado State vs Florida 2018 NCAA Football Week 3 Lines
SMU at Michigan NCAA Football Week 3 Betting Trends
- Mustangs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points
- Mustangs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games
- Wolverines are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record
- Southern Methodist is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Southern Methodist’s last 10 games
- Michigan is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan’s last 6 games
