SMU at Clemson Week 8 College Football Matchup SMU at Clemson Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 18 2025 · Week 8 · 🏟 Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC · Turf · 81,500 cap
SMU✈ 810 mi+1 hr TZ
Away
35 24
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
SMU
25
Clemson
26
P&R Line Clemson -1
P&R Total O/U 50.5
Confidence 75 Good
Vegas Clemson -3.5 · O/U 49.5
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
64.9%
SMU wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Clemson -3.5
O/U 49.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
SMU 2025 Schedule
SMU's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30SMU vs East Texas A&M-51.0W42–1365.0W42–13UN
Sat 9/6SMU vs Baylor-3.0L45–4865.5L45–48ON
Sat 9/13SMU at Missouri State-29.5W28–1060.5W28–10UN
Sat 9/20SMU at TCU+6.5L24–3563.5L24–35UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4SMU vs Syracuse-17.5W31–1856.5W31–18UN
Sat 10/11SMU vs Stanford-19.5W34–1055.5W34–10UY
Sat 10/18SMU at Clemson+3.5W35–2449.5W35–24OY
Sat 10/25SMU at Wake Forest-6.5L12–1353.5L12–13UN
Sat 11/1SMU vs Miami+8.5W26–2050.5W26–20UY
Sat 11/8SMU at Boston College-10.5W45–1354.5W45–13OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/22SMU vs Louisville-4.0W38–649.5W38–6UY
Sat 11/29SMU at California-13.5L35–3853.5L35–38ON
Fri 1/2SMU vs Arizona-2.5W24–1955.5W24–19UY
Clemson 2025 Schedule
Clemson's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Clemson vs LSU-3.5L10–1757.5L10–17UN
Sat 9/6Clemson vs Troy-31.0W27–1651.5W27–16UN
Sat 9/13Clemson at Georgia Tech-2.5L21–2449.5L21–24UN
Sat 9/20Clemson vs Syracuse-17.5L21–3453.5L21–34ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4Clemson at North Carolina-15.5W38–1047.5W38–10OY
Sat 10/11Clemson at Boston College-14.0W41–1054.5W41–10UY
Sat 10/18Clemson vs SMU-3.5L24–3549.5L24–35ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1Clemson vs Duke-4.5L45–4655.5L45–46ON
Sat 11/8Clemson vs Florida State-1.5W24–1056.5W24–10UY
Fri 11/14Clemson at Louisville+1.5W20–1950.5W20–19UY
Sat 11/22Clemson vs Furman-41.5W45–1055.5W45–10UN
Sat 11/29Clemson at South Carolina+2.5W28–1445.5W28–14UY
Sat 12/27Clemson vs Penn State-2.5L10–2247.5L10–22UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
SMU PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
SMU #30
+0.338
Clemson #55
+0.220
SMU Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
SMU #23
+0.592
Clemson #58
+0.461
SMU Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
SMU #15
0.188
Clemson #9
0.196
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Clemson Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
SMU #53
+6.572
Clemson #59
+6.584
Clemson Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
SMU #64
+0.796
Clemson #67
+0.826
Clemson Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
SMU #109
72.4
Clemson #39
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Clemson Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 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
Clemson
8.2
Offense Rating
SMU
26.0
Clemson
18.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
SMU
9.9
Clemson
9.8
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 #22
1.60
Clemson #65
1.33
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #2
0.40
Clemson #15
0.50
SMU +0.27
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 6 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
64.2
Clemson #1
47.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #19
24.3
Clemson #69
39.5
SMU +16.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% 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 solid GC edge. Teams with this profile have covered 53.0% of the time historically (n=330) — a mild lean.

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

Coaching Matchup
SMU
Rhett Lashlee #1
29–12 (71%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Casey Woods Yr 3 #1
DC Scott Symons Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Clemson
Dabo Swinney #1
180–46 (80%) · Yr 17 at school
OC Garrett Riley Yr 3 #1
DC Tom Allen Yr 1 #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: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an 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: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an 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