The 2020 college football season opens for SMU and Texas State on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, with a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff (on ESPN). We analyze the SMU-Texas State college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
SMU at Texas State: Betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 7:45 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: SMU -1667 | Texas State +875
- Against the Spread/ATS: SMU -23 (-110) | Texas State +23 (-110)
- Over/Under: 69.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
SMU at Texas State: Three things to know
- SMU’s defense has a couple of notable opt-outs due to COVID-19, as senior CB Eric Sutton is passing on the year and will enter the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility in 2021, while grad transfer DT Mike Williams, who came over from Stanford, also opted out.
- Texas State announced in late August that capacity at Bobcat Stadium will be limited to 25 percent, or 7,500 of the 30,000 seats. The Bobcats averaged 17,140 for their six home games in 2019.
- These teams met on Sept. 14, 2019, with the Mustangs posting a 47-17 victory as 17 1/2-point favorites. The over (63) also just inched over the line.
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SMU at Texas State: Odds, betting lines and picks
Prediction
SMU 45, Texas State 34
Moneyline (ML)
SMU (-1667) is coming off a double-digit win season, its first since 1984, and they have a high-powered offensive attack with former Texas QB Shane Buechele back at the helm. They could challenge for the American Athletic Conference title because of that amazing offense. However, there is never a way to justify risking this kind of money for such a little return, regardless of the near-certainty of victory. It’s just bad gambling to think otherwise.
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Against the Spread (ATS)
TEXAS STATE (+23, -110) should be able to keep it within three touchdowns, especially on the Bobcats’ home field. Head coach Jake Spavital is an offensive guru, and he is starting to get some of his people into the program after working with recruits from a prior regime last season, his first with the program. Texas State won three games in 2019, but should take a step forward in Sun Belt play this time around. QB Brady McBride is a player Spavital targeted as a transfer from Memphis, and he’ll be itching to go after sitting out 2019. SMU has a strong offense, but Texas State has enough firepower to hang.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 69.5 (-110) is the expected result. In the early going, look for the offenses to be ahead of the defenses — with sloppy tackling likely the rule, especially for some of the lesser defenses which weren’t likely going to be very good to begin with. We’ll see plenty of broken tackles and big plays from these two potent offenses who will show out in front of a national audience.
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