SMU at Stanford Week 8 College Football Matchup SMU at Stanford Matchup - Week 8
Sun, Oct 20 2024 · Week 8 · 🏟 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA · Turf · 50,424 cap
SMU✈ 1,464 mi-2 hr TZ
Away
40 10
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
SMU
37
Stanford
17
P&R Line SMU -20.5
P&R Total O/U 53.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas SMU -16.5 · O/U 52.5
Matchup Prediction
SMU has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor SMU entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
SMU wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
SMU wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
SMU -16.5
O/U 52.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → SMU · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 SMU Coming off BYE
SMU 2024 Schedule
SMU's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/24SMU at Nevada-28.0W29–2455.5W29–24UN
Sat 8/31SMU vs Houston Christian-30
Fri 9/6SMU vs BYU-12.5L15–1855.5L15–18UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/21SMU vs TCU+1.0W66–4258.5W66–42OY
Sat 9/28SMU vs Florida State-6.0W42–1646.0W42–16OY
Sat 10/5SMU at Louisville+6.5W34–2755.0W34–27OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/19SMU at Stanford-16.5W40–1052.5W40–10UY
Sat 10/26SMU at Duke-11.5W28–2749.5W28–27ON
Sat 11/2SMU vs Pittsburgh-7.0W48–2555.5W48–25OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/16SMU vs Boston College-19.0W38–2854.5W38–28ON
Sat 11/23SMU at Virginia-11.5W33–754.5W33–7UY
Sat 11/30SMU vs California-11.5W38–654.5W38–6UY
Sat 12/7SMU vs Clemson-2.5L31–3456.5L31–34ON
Sat 12/21SMU at Penn State+9.0L10–3852.5L10–38UN
Stanford 2024 Schedule
Stanford's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 8/30Stanford vs TCU+8.0L27–3458.5L27–34OY
Sat 9/7Stanford vs Cal Poly-33.5W41–759.5W41–7UY
— Bye Week —
Fri 9/20Stanford at Syracuse+9.5W26–2456.5W26–24UY
Sat 9/28Stanford at Clemson+24.0L14–4058.0L14–40UN
Sat 10/5Stanford vs Virginia Tech+9.5L7–3150.0L7–31UN
Sat 10/12Stanford at Notre Dame+22.5L7–4945.5L7–49ON
Sat 10/19Stanford vs SMU+16.5L10–4052.5L10–40UN
Sat 10/26Stanford vs Wake Forest+3.0L24–2753.0L24–27UY
Sat 11/2Stanford at NC State+10.0L28–5946.5L28–59ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/16Stanford vs Louisville+21.0W38–3557.5W38–35OY
Sat 11/23Stanford at California+15.0L21–2453.5L21–24UY
Fri 11/29Stanford at San José State+2.5L31–3454.5L31–34ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2024 season
SMU PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ SMU
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ SMU
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ SMU
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
SMU #38
+0.512
Stanford #114
+0.134
SMU Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
SMU #19
+0.770
Stanford #111
+0.238
SMU Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
SMU #29
0.185
Stanford #94
0.144
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
SMU Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
SMU #25
+8.948
Stanford #92
+6.759
SMU Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
SMU #53
+0.907
Stanford #101
+0.768
SMU Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
SMU #26
68.9
Stanford #81
71.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
SMU Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2024 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
SMU Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
SMU
16.2
Stanford
-5.0
Offense Rating
SMU
26.0
Stanford
11.1
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
SMU
9.9
Stanford
16.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? SMU Edge
Avg sequences created per game
SMU #25
0.60
Stanford #97
0.20
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #22
0.20
Stanford #110
1.80
SMU +0.40
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? SMU Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
SMU #1
59.2
Stanford #1
34.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #15
21.1
Stanford #118
48.6
SMU +24.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on SMU with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
SMU
Rhett Lashlee #1
18–10 (64%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Casey Woods Yr 3 #1
DC Scott Symons Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Stanford
Troy Taylor #1
3–9 (25%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Troy Taylor Yr 2 #1
DC Bobby April III Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself