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The Boston College Eagles take on the SMU Mustangs in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on The CW.
SMU is favored by -21.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2000. Boston College, meanwhile, enters as a +21.5 underdog and is +980 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 55.5 total points.
Here’s my Boston College vs. SMU prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 3.
Boston College vs SMU Prediction
- Boston College vs. SMU Pick: Kevin Jennings Anytime Touchdown (+120)
My SMU vs. Boston College best bet is on Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings to score a touchdown. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
Boston College vs SMU Odds
| Boston College Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+21.5 -115 | 55.5 -106o / -114u | +980 |
| SMU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-21.5 -105 | 55.5 -106o / -114u | -2000 |
- Boston College vs SMU point spread: SMU -21.5 (-105), Boston College +21.5 (-115)
- Boston College vs SMU over/under: 55.5 (-106o / -114u)
- Boston College vs SMU moneyline: Boston College +980, SMU -2000
Boston College vs SMU College Football Preview
Boston College Eagles Betting Preview: Ground Game is Key
It's been a very rocky 2026 campaign for Boston College over its first four games of the season, with the Eagles prevailing in two of those contests.
In BC head coach Bill O’Brien’s third year at the helm, the longtime NFL coach has taken over full play-calling duties following an abysmal 2025 campaign that left the Eagles with a 2-10 record.
O’Brien completely overhauled this Boston College roster in the transfer portal this past offseason and has instilled a highly physical, run-first spread offense to make up for gaping holes in the Eagles’ pocket protection.
Division II transfer quarterback Mason McKenzie won the starting job this summer after spending a year at Saginaw Valley State and has had a difficult transition to an FBS schedule in 2026.
While McKenzie has had his moments over the first four games of the season, racking up 759 passing yards in the process, the Eagles' signal-caller has been susceptible to making mistakes, already throwing five interceptions in just four games.
McKenzie is remarkably athletic and has thrived with his dual-threat prowess, with a great majority of the Eagles’ offensive schematics being designed QB keepers. That has led to the former Saginaw State star leading the team with 363 rushing yards.
Boston College’s QB1 has 74 rushing attempts in just four games and is coming off a phenomenal 138-yard performance on the ground, adding two rushing scores in a close defeat to James Franklin’s Virginia Tech squad.
Liberty transfer running back Evan Dickens plays second fiddle to McKenzie as the Eagles’ RB1, recording 214 rushing yards on 45 attempts.
While O’Brien’s offense is relatively one-dimensional, McKenzie’s upside as a dual-threat option provides this Eagles offense with some creative schematic packages that emphasize his effectiveness as a rushing QB.
Ted Roof is in his first season as BC’s defensive coordinator after a horrific 2025 campaign that led to the Eagles having one of the worst stop units in the entire country.
The Eagles defense is full of transfers acquired from the portal this past offseason, but has remained largely inconsistent in its ability to contain opposing rushing attacks.
Still, EDGE E’Lla Boykin has been very impressive for Boston College’s pass rush thus far.
O’Brien’s bunch could have its hands full in Week 5 against an uptempo SMU offense led by dual-threat quarterback Kevin Jennings, who has been slicing up opposing defenses both through the air and on the ground.
SMU Mustangs Betting Preview: [Editorial Language]
It has been a strong start to the 2026 season for SMU, which has prevailed in three of its first four games behind the strong play of Jennings.
In just four games, the Mustangs’ senior QB has thrown for a whopping 1,453 yards through the air, ranking second in all of college football ahead of Week 5.
The fifth-year Mustang also ranks inside the top five among QBs, already throwing for 12 touchdowns. He has also been susceptible to turning over the ball with five picks in four games.
The Mustangs offense relies far more on Jennings’ elite arm strength and an absolutely loaded receiving corps featuring Yannick Smith and Randy Pittman Jr. on the outside and 5-foot-9 speedster Yamir Knight in the slot.
Knight leads this SMU offense in receiving yards, racking up 345 thus far to go with two touchdowns as well.
Running back Kendrick Raphael has also put himself in the national spotlight, rushing for 373 yards and five scores on just 62 rushing attempts this season.
This SMU offense is remarkably versatile. A large part of its efficiency can be attributed to an elite coaching staff led by fourth-year SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee.
Lashlee is an offensive specialist, previously serving as SMU's offensive coordinator before leaving to coach Miami in the same capacity.
New co-defensive coordinators Rickey Hunley Jr. and Maurice Crum Jr. return linebackers Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore, in addition to adding several defensive linemen via the portal this past offseason.
While this SMU defense has been far less efficient than an offensive unit scoring 37 points per game thus far, the Mustangs' D has a big opportunity to show out on Saturday against a measly Boston College offense in front of a home crowd in Dallas.
Boston College vs SMU Pick, Betting Analysis
In addition to the Eagles’ inconsistency and lack of any form of passing attack whatsoever, it has been reported that there's an illness running rampant in the locker room that could result in several key players missing Week 5.
Regardless of whether Boston College is at full strength on Saturday afternoon, this is a spot where I heavily favor SMU, given how impressive Jennings has been over the first month of the season.
Given how poorly the Eagles’ defense has performed against opposing rushing attacks, I'll be taking more of a value approach by betting Jennings to score a touchdown with his legs at +120.
While Jennings only has one rushing touchdown this season, the senior has recorded nine rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons. This is a perfect matchup for SMU’s QB to find the end zone for his second of the season.
Pick: Kevin Jennings Anytime Touchdown (+120)
