Missouri State Visits No. 22 SMU: Kickoff, TV, Odds and Preview
The short version
- Missouri State (1-3) faces No. 22 SMU (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. CT at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
- TV: ACC Network; radio: Missouri State Radio Network on 101.3 KWTO.
- BetMGM odds as of Friday, Sept. 25: SMU favored by 34.5 points; over/under 60.
- First-year Bears coach Casey Woods coached at SMU for the previous four seasons.
- Both teams lost last week — Missouri State to Marshall, SMU to Louisville.
Casey Woods returns to Dallas to face his former program as Missouri State meets No. 22 SMU on ACC Network at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 26.
First-year Missouri State coach Casey Woods heads back to familiar territory this weekend. Woods spent the four seasons prior to his current job on the SMU staff, and on Saturday, Sept. 26, his Bears (1-3) travel to Dallas for a non-conference primetime matchup against the No. 22 Mustangs and head coach Rhett Lashlee, whom the Missouri State staff knows well.
Both teams arrive looking to rebound from narrow setbacks a week ago. Missouri State dropped a one-possession decision to Marshall, while SMU (2-1) fell to Louisville. The winner gets back on track in a non-conference tilt that carries personal stakes for the visiting coaching staff.
The game kicks off at 8 p.m. CT at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. It marks another national television appearance for Missouri State, which has already played in front of national audiences twice this season — on ESPN against Texas A&M and on CBS Sports Network against Marshall.
Viewers can watch on ACC Network. Radio coverage will be carried by the Missouri State Radio Network on 101.3 KWTO.
Betting markets, per BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 25, list SMU as a 34.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 60 points.
Yahoo Sports projects a 42-13 SMU victory. The outlook acknowledges significant growth from a Missouri State offense that was shut out, 50-0, by Texas A&M in Week 1. Since that opener, the Bears' ground game has produced, and quarterback Skyler Locklear has developed a connection with deep threat Isaiah Myers.
The prediction expects Missouri State to avoid a shutout this time around while still facing a stiff test against a high-powered SMU attack. Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings is rated among the best players at his position nationally, and coming off the Louisville defeat, SMU has incentive to post a big offensive performance and move past Week 3.
The expectation is that Saturday will challenge Missouri State, but not to the extent of the season-opening blowout loss to the Aggies.
Games to watch
