Check out our free SMU Mustangs vs Louisville Cardinals pick and preview for this CFB week 6 game in Louisville. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this week 6 CFB matchup.
ESPN will be covering the week six matchup between the SMU Mustangs and Louisville Cardinals, set to kick off at 12:00 ET from L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville. The Cardinals are the -7-point favorites at home, and the over/under line is currently at 57 points. Both teams are coming into this game with just one loss, as the Mustangs are 4-1 and the Cardinals are 3-1 on the season.
Mustangs vs. Cardinals Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: CFB
- Teams: SMU Mustangs at Louisville Cardinals
- Where: Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Date: Saturday, October 5th
- Betting Odds LOU -7, SMU +211 | LOU -259 O/U 57
Mustangs Preview:
SMU enters Week 6 with a 4-1 record, ranked 19th in our power rankings. They have a 99.1% chance of being bowl-eligible and an 11.3% shot at winning the Atlantic Coast. The Mustangs also have the 23rd best odds of making the CFB playoff at 13.2%.
The Mustangs are 2-1 at home and 1-0 on the road this season. They’ve been favored in three of their five games, going 2-1 as the favorite. SMU’s average scoring margin is +20.8 points, and they are 2-2 against the spread.
SMU’s over/under record is 2-2, with their games averaging 63.6 points. Their average over/under line is 54.1 points, and this week’s total is set at 57 points.
Mustangs Offense Breakdown
Heading into week 6, SMU’s offense is averaging 42.2 points per game, placing them 12th in the nation. They are also 14th in rushing, with 217.2 yards per game, and rank 7th in rushing attempts, averaging 41.6 per game. Brashard Smith leads the ground attack with 506 yards, seven touchdowns, and an impressive 7 yards per carry.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown for 733 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception, giving him a passer rating of 104. SMU ranks 56th in passing yards nationally. They are converting 46.4% of their third-down opportunities, which ranks 30th. SMU is 70th in our offensive power rankings heading into this week.
Mustangs Team Defense
SMU's defense is coming off a strong performance against Florida State, allowing just 16 points and forcing three interceptions. They limited the Seminoles to 13 first downs and 73 rushing yards on 25 attempts, while giving up 222 passing yards.
On the season, SMU ranks 20th nationally in rushing yards allowed, giving up just 91.6 yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 68 and are completing only 50.5% of their throws against SMU’s defense.
Cardinals Preview:
SMU enters Week 6 with a 4-1 record, ranked 19th in our power rankings. They have a 99.1% chance of being bowl-eligible and an 11.3% shot at winning the Atlantic Coast. The Mustangs also have the 23rd best odds of making the CFB playoff at 13.2%.
The Mustangs are 2-1 at home and 1-0 on the road this season. They’ve been favored in three of their five games, going 2-1 as the favorite. SMU’s average scoring margin is +20.8 points, and they are 2-2 against the spread.
SMU’s over/under record is 2-2, with their games averaging 63.6 points. Their average over/under line is 54.1 points, and this week’s total is set at 57 points.
Cardinals Offense Breakdown
Louisville’s offense is averaging 41.5 points per game, ranking 16th in the nation, and they are 21st in our offensive power rankings heading into week 6. Quarterback Tyler Shough has thrown for 1,114 yards with 11 touchdowns and just one interception, giving him a passer rating of 123. Louisville is 11th in passer rating nationally and 20th in completion percentage, completing 67.4% of their passes while averaging 297 yards per game.
Shough leads the offense, and Ja'Corey Brooks has 368 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and 22 catches. On the ground, Louisville is averaging 190.8 rushing yards per game. Isaac Brown has rushed for 245 yards, averaging 8 yards per carry, but has only one rushing touchdown this season.
Cardinals Team Defense
Louisville's defense has been strong this season, ranking 15th nationally by allowing just 16 points per game. In their recent game against Notre Dame, they gave up 31 points but still limited the Irish to 283 total yards, including 120 rushing yards on 29 attempts and 163 passing yards.
Opponents are averaging 95.5 rushing yards per game against Louisville, ranking 25th in the country. Through the air, quarterbacks have completed 64.6% of their passes, averaging 176.8 passing yards per game and posting a passer rating of 84.7.
Mustangs vs Cardinals Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Across their three previous road games, SMU has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-1 while averaging 23 points per game.
- In their last five games at home, the Louisville Cardinals have a straight up record of 1-4 while going 1-4 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 23 points per game in these contests.
- The SMU Mustangs have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
- The Louisville Cardinals have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 3-2 straight up and 3-2 against the spread.
SMU Mustangs vs Louisville Cardinals Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: Louisville Cardinals -7 Be sure to check out our other CFB Football betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.
