A thrilling Week 1 conference matchup unfolds on Labor Day as the No. 19 SMU Mustangs take on the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Seminoles (1-0) began their season strong with a 34-17 victory over New Mexico State in Week 0. In contrast, the Mustangs (0-0) look to build on their impressive 9-4 record from last season, where they finished 12th nationally and boasted a 6-2 conference mark.

In their only previous encounter in 2024, SMU emerged victorious, and they enter this game as 2.5-point favorites with an over/under set at 53.5 points. Josh Nagel, a seasoned sports analyst with over 20 years of experience, provides insights into this matchup, boasting an 8-3 record on his last picks involving SMU.

Key Betting Information:

• Spread: SMU -2.5
• Over/Under: 52.5
• Money Line: SMU -153, Florida State +128

Expert Insights:

• Nagel leans toward the Under (53.5) based on recent trends, noting that the Under has hit in six of Florida State’s last seven games.
• SMU's games also leaned toward the Under last season, with a 9-4 record in that regard.
• Quarterback performance could influence the scoring, as Kevin Jennings of SMU threw 13 interceptions last year, while Ashton Daniels from Florida State has struggled with passing efficiency, ranking among the lowest in college football since 2023.

Nagel emphasizes the importance of a critical x-factor that could sway the spread in favor of one team, available exclusively on SportsLine. Be sure to check his detailed analysis and predictions ahead of this exciting matchup.