At the onset of any bowl, the season is the coaching change madness that now takes place in the midst of the recruiting season. Florida Atlantic is an excellent example of that phenomenon. To illuminate a few minutes after winning the Conference USA championship Owls coach Lane Kiffin was announced as the new Ole Miss coach. Subsequently, Willie Taggart was named as Kiffin’s replacement four days later. FAU will help open bowl season with a College Football betting matchup against the SMU Mustangs. Namely, SMU’s Sonny Dykes has proven to be one of the top offensive coaches in America.
SMU Mustangs vs. Florida Atlantic Owls – Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
| Date and Time: | Saturday, December 21, 2019, 3:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | FAU Football Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida |
| SMU vs. FAU TV Coverage: | ABC |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | -3 (-115) | 70 (-110) | -160 |  |
| Florida Atlantic | +3 (-105) | 70 (-110) | +140 | |
| ||||
SMU Mustangs vs. Florida Atlantic Owls Overview
Florida Atlantic has an online betting record of 10-3 straight up, 9-4 against the spread, and 6-6-1 on totals. Last time out the Owls won the Conference USA Championship over Alabama Birmingham 49-6 as 9-point home chalks. FAU has national metrics of 16th for scoring offense and 33rd for points allowed.
SMU is 10-2 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 9-3 over the total. Overall the Mustangs rank 7th in the country for scoring offense, but 100th for points allowed. SMU’s last game was a 37-20 win over Tulane as 3-point home chalks.
Key Mustangs: QB Shane Buechele (3626 YDS, 63.2% COMP, 8.2 AVG, 33 TD, 9 INT, 17 SACKS, 152.5 RTG), RB Xavier Jones (232 ATT, 1249 YDS, 5.4 AVG, 21 TD), WR James Proche (102 REC, 1139 YDS, 11.2 AVG, 14 TD), PK Kevin Robledo (38-41 XP, 10-12 FG, 68 PTS), LB Richard McBryde (87 TACKLES, 3.5 SACKS), S Rodney Clemons (71 TACKLES, 4 INT)
Key Owls: QB Chris Robison (3396 YDS, 60.8% COMP, 7.8 AVG, 26 TD, 6 INT, 24 SACK, 143.6 RTG), RB Malcolm Davidson (102 ATT, 711 YDS, 7.0 AVG, 9 TD), WR Deangelo Antoine (61 REC, 771 YDS, 12.6 AVG, 5 TD), PK Vladimir Rivas (48-52, 16-23 FG, 96 PTS), LB Akileis Leroy (101 TACKLES, 7.5 SACKS, 3 INT)
SMU and Florida Atlantic Vs. The Line
The Mustangs are:
- 5-10 against the spread on the road
- 4-2-1 over the total in away games
- 4-6 vs. the odds as a favorite
- 3-5-1 under the total in their last seven games as a chalk
- 3-2 with the line in bowl games
- 0-5 under the total in post-season
The Owls are:
- 4-5 against the spread in their last five home games
- 2-7 under the total at FAU Stadium
- 4-7 vs. the line when getting points
- 6-1 over the total as an underdog
- 3-0 vs. the odds in post-season
- 1-2 under the total in bowl games
SMU Owls vs. Florida Atlantic Owls College Football Betting Picks
On this occasion, the Owls will host this College Football Betting matchup without their head coach. Of great concern on the Mustangs side is their lack of defense. Lane Kiffin may be gone, but his talented roster remains in Boca.
SMU vs. Florida Atlantic College Football Betting Prediction: Florida Atlantic Owls
SMU vs. Florida Atlantic College Football Betting Score Prediction: FAU 42, SMU 31