College Football

Canceled: Virginia vs SMU 12/29/21 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

SMU Mustangs (8-4) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (6-6)
December 29, 2021 11:00 am EDT
The Line: Virginia Cavaliers -2 / SMU Mustangs +2; Over/Under: 71
(Get latest betting odds)

This game has been canceled due to a COVID outbreak with Virginia. The SMU Mustangs and Virginia Cavaliers meet Wednesday in the college football Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park. The SMU Mustangs need a win after losing four of their last five games. The Virginia Cavaliers look to snap a four-game losing streak. 

The SMU Mustangs have lost three straight non-home games. Tanner Mordecai is completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 3,628 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Danny Gray and Rashee Rice have combined for 1,473 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns while Reggie Roberson Jr. has 51 receptions. The SMU Mustangs ground game is averaging 162.4 yards per contest, and Tre Siggers leads the way with 727 yards and 9 touchdowns. Defensively, SMU is allowing 28.4 points and 414.6 yards per game. Delano Robinson leads the SMU Mustangs with 78 tackles, DeVere Levelston has 6.5 sacks and Isaac Slade-Matautia has 2 interceptions.

The Virginia Cavaliers have lost three of their last five non-home games. Brennan Armstrong is completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 4,444 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson have combined for 2,193 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, while Billy Kemp IV has 74 receptions. The Virginia Cavaliers ground game is averaging 122 yards per contest, and Wayne Taulapapa leads the way with 324 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Virginia is allowing 31.8 points and 466 yards per game. Nick Jackson leads the Virginia Cavaliers with 117 tackles, Mandy Alonso has 3.5 sacks and Joey Blount has 3 interceptions.

The Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Cavaliers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games. The under is 5-1 in Mustangs last 6 bowl games. The under is 9-4 in Cavaliers last 13 games overall.

The Virginia Cavaliers are probably the more talented team here and should win, but the bottom line is neither of these clubs are heading into the bowl season playing all that well. You can give Virginia the benefit of the doubt, given a brutal schedule the last month. With that said, I lean the over here. SMU is 13th in total offense and 10th in scoring offense, while Virginia is third in total offense, second in passing offense and 22nd in scoring offense. Neither side is good defensively. Expect some fireworks in Boston. Give me the over.

Randy Chambers's Free Pick: Over 71

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Randy Chambers

Randy has covered sports betting since 2014 and writes about everything from NFL to WNBA. Follow Randy Chambers on Twitter.

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