FBS-CFB Game Preview: Louisville Cardinals (7-3) vs. SMU Mustangs (7-3)

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Venue & Event Details

Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park (Dallas), TX

Kickoff: 12:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM CST

Broadcast: ESPN2

Weather Forecast

Temperature: 63°F at kickoff, rising to 68°F by mid-afternoon

Conditions: Sunny skies, light winds (5–8 mph)

Impact: Ideal conditions for both passing and rushing

Injury Report

Louisville: QB Miller Moss (healthy, 2,344 yards, 11 TDs, 7 INTs); RB Isaac Brown (782 yards, 5 TDs); WR Chris Bell (871 yards, 6 TDs). No major injuries reported.

SMU: QB Kevin Jennings (healthy, 2,810 yards, 21 TDs, 9 INTs); RB Tomarion Harden (612 yards, 6 TDs); WR Jordan Hudson (595 yards, 4 TDs). WR Romello Brinson (582 yards, 3 TDs) probable.

Key Player Matchups

Kevin Jennings (SMU QB) vs Louisville Secondary: Jennings’ efficiency (64.8% completion) will test a defense that allowed 20 points in a narrow loss vs Clemson.

Miller Moss (Louisville QB) vs SMU Defense: Moss’s ability to avoid turnovers will be critical against an SMU defense that thrives on pressure.

Chris Bell (Louisville WR) vs SMU CBs: Bell’s big-play ability (871 yards, 6 TDs) against a secondary that has allowed multiple 300-yard passing games.

Recent Team Forms

Louisville: Lost 20–19 vs Clemson (Nov. 14); previously beat Virginia Tech 28–16 and lost 29–26 vs California.

SMU: Beat Boston College 45–13 (Nov. 8); beat Miami (FL) 26–20 (Nov. 1); lost 13–12 vs Wake Forest (Oct. 25).

Series History

All-time: SMU leads 1–0 (beat Louisville in 2024).

Last meeting: SMU won 31–24 in Dallas.

Betting Trends:

Louisville is 4–6 ATS this season.

SMU is 6–4 ATS.

Overs have hit in 3 of last 5 SMU games.

Historical Betting Results

SMU has covered in 4 of last 6 ACC games.

Louisville has failed to cover in 3 of last 5 ACC games.

SMU has won 3 of last 4 home games.

Prediction: SMU 31 – Louisville 27

Game Odds

Louisville Cardinals         49.5

SMU Mustangs                 – 4

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 21, 2025