Arizona vs SMU Prediction and Pick TRUST & WILL HOLIDAY BOWL Picks, College Football Picks

A matchup between the Arizona Wildcats and the SMU Mustangs is scheduled to take place in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl during the postseason of 2025. This night game is planned to take place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM, and it will be broadcast on FOX. The game will take place on the same day. Both of these clubs will have the chance to make a statement at the end of their respective seasons if they want to compete against one another.

Arizona is coming into the bowl game with a great 9-3 record, including a solid 7-3 showing in Big 12 play from the previous season. The Wildcats, who have won their past five games and are currently ranked #21 in the Associated Press Poll and #20 in the Coaches Poll, will be looking to continue their recent success and maintain their current ranking. A balanced approach with 286 passing yards was displayed by them in their most recent game, which resulted in a victory over Arizona State by a score of 23-7.

The SMU Mustangs, who compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, ended the regular season with a record of 8-4 and a standing of 6-2 in the conference. SMU is keen to get back on track after suffering a tight defeat at the hands of California, defeating them 38-35. With a good performance in their game against Louisville, which they won 38-6, the Mustangs will be looking to capitalize on their home-field advantage at Snapdragon Stadium in order to have a successful postseason performance.

The recent games that SMU has played have provided evidence of their offensive powers, most notably in their triumph over the Louisville Cardinals, which they won with a commanding score of 38-6. Kevin Jennings, their outstanding quarterback, has been a significant contributor to their success. He has led a passing offense that is ranked fourteenth in the nation with 3,402 yards of throwing. In spite of the fact that they were defeated by the California Golden Bears, SMU has demonstrated that they are capable of recovering from defeats by maintaining an unbeaten record in games that follow a loss.

Even though the Mustangs’ passing game is more dominant than their running game, the Mustangs’ running game demonstrated its strength versus Boston College, as they racked up 223 yards on the ground. SMU’s best running back, TJ Harden, has gained 746 yards on the ground, which places him at the forefront of their ground game approach. Harden has been important in the University’s success. Their ability to strike a balance between aerial and ground strikes means that their opponents’ defenses are always on their toes.

This season, SMU has ranked seventh nationally with 35 sacks, indicating that they have been successful in putting pressure on the defensive side of the ball. Their ability to recover fumbles has also been a significant influence, as seen by the fact that they have eight recoveries, which places them among the best in the nation. It is expected that the Mustangs’ defense will continue to take an aggressive approach in order to disrupt the offenses of its opponents.

Despite this, their defense has been struggling, as seen by the fact that they allowed 38 points to be scored against California in their game recently. It will be essential for SMU to maintain consistency on defense in order to complement their high-powered offense, which is their primary objective. Given that they have already thrown 17 interceptions this season, the secondary’s ability to generate turnovers will be of the utmost importance.

Kevin Jennings, the quarterback, stands out as a serious threat through the air due to the fact that he has thrown for 3,363 yards and 26 touchdowns. The success of the Mustangs’ offense will be directly proportional to his capacity to establish a connection with top receiver Jordan Hudson, who now has 749 receiving yards acquired. The highlight of Hudson’s play has been his six touchdown receptions, which have been a highlight of his performance.

T.J. Harden, a running back, is another important player since he represents a dual threat because of his ability to both rush and receive the ball. The offensive approach of the Mustangs is made more complicated by the fact that he has rushed for 746 yards and scored seven touchdowns. When it comes to defense, the effectiveness of their pass rush and secondary will be crucial in determining how tempo is controlled throughout the game.

Over the course of 12 games, Noah Fifita has played exceptionally well for the Wildcats, compiling a total of 2,963 passing yards. His success in Arizona’s passing attack is highlighted by the fact that he boasts 26 passing touchdowns, which places him eleventh in the country. Controlling the number of interceptions, which amounted to only five, has been essential for them to keep their attacking momentum going.

Ismail Mahdi, who has accumulated 785 yards and has demonstrated consistency on the ground, is the offensive player who is in charge of the running attack. In just nine games, Kedrick Reescano has racked up 394 yards and nine touchdowns, making him a formidable complement to Mahdi. The contributions that Quincy Craig makes to the Wildcats’ backfield offer depth to the team’s rushing game, which is further backed by his contributions.

It has been demonstrated that Kris Hutson is a dependable target, as he has 57 receptions and 740 yards, making him the leader of the Wildcats’ receiving corps. With a combined total of 59 receptions and 802 yards, Tre Spivey and Javin Whatley have also made big contributions to the team’s success. The success of Arizona’s offense can be directly attributed to their strategic ability to spread the field.

There has been a significant improvement in the defense, as they have allowed 227 points so far this season, which places them 67th. They are currently ranked 21st in the nation for defensive line activity, with 21 sacks made by their defensive line. Michael Salgado-Medina, a kicker for special teams, has successfully completed 19 field goals, which is an important aspect in games that are tight.

Recently, Arizona has been in a great form, as evidenced by their victory over Arizona State, which was a convincing 23-7 victory. Their offensive unit has been on fire, as evidenced by their 31st-ranked 391 points scored so far this season. As a result of the defense’s increased ability to force turnovers, including 19 interceptions, the team is currently ranked 20th nationally.

It has been determined that Tre Smith and Tyler Powell will not be able to play for the duration of the season, which will have an effect on the defensive and end positions, respectively. Players such as Tiaoalii Savea, Jordan Brown, and Marquis Groves-Killebrew are considered to be questionable since their availability has the potential to affect the dynamics of the game.

Both Southern Methodist University and Arizona have potent offensive skills, with SMU scoring 395 points this season and Arizona coming in close behind with 391 points. Their offensive statistics indicate that this will be a high-scoring contest, which makes the over 52.5 an intriguing option to consider.

Recent games played by SMU have resulted in large point totals, including a game versus California that ended with a score of 35–38. Based on the Mustangs’ history of high-scoring games, it appears like they have the potential to make a large contribution to the over.

Throughout the course of the season, Arizona has displayed great offensive power, as evidenced by their ranking of 31st in points for and their average of more than 32 points per game. The fact that they are able to score on a steady basis gives the over 52.5 pick more confidence.

After taking into account the offensive capabilities of both teams as well as their recent results, the ultimate score is anticipated to be SMU 34 – Arizona 31. Due to the fact that the total score is higher than the set total, this prediction lends support to picking the over.

✅ Our Arizona vs SMU Prediction: SMU

 

Arizona vs SMU Prediction and Pick TRUST & WILL HOLIDAY BOWL Picks, College Football Picks, by YouWager.lv.