By admin 
It’s a big moment early on in the ACC race. Louisville (1-1) has the high-powered talent to make a big run, and with no Miami or Virginia to deal with, SMU (2-0) should be the toughest conference game on the schedule.
The Mustangs don’t play Miami, either, but they do get Virginia – it’s a home game. There’s a great chance this is the toughest ACC game left on their schedule.
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SMU vs Louisville: Quick Hits
- SMU gets a break against Missouri State next week, and the ACC picks back up against Boston College. This is the only road game in a six-game stretch.
- Louisville gets Wake Forest next and then goes on the road to face NC State. That’s the only road date in a five-game run.
- SMU is 4-0 all-time against the Cardinals, including the last two years as ACC teams. The Mustangs also won the season openers in 1983 and 1984.
How To Watch SMU vs Louisville
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN2
Location: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, KY
– Week 3 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 3
Why SMU Will Win
The passing game continues to be fantastic.
Kevin Jennings throws picks here and there, but he’s deadly accurate. He and backup Ty Hawkins combined to hit 80% of their throws with ten scores in the first two games, and they’ll test the Louisville secondary.
The Cardinals were fine against Villanova, but they couldn’t hold up against Trindad Chambliss and Ole Miss. Over the last two seasons in wins over the Cardinals, Jennings hit 78% of his passes for 584 yards and three scores and no picks.
Why Louisville Will Win
The Cardinals have the offense to keep up. SMU hasn’t faced anyone who can throw.
Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has been brilliant so far, connecting on 68% of his throws for 639 yards and four scores, and running for 111 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown any picks yet, and Louisville hasn’t turned it over in the first two games.
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SMU vs Louisville Prediction, Betting Lines
Can Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm beat these guys?
SMU got to the ACC Championship in 2024, helped by its win over the Cardinals. It stayed in the title chase with last year’s dominant 38-6 victory. Meanwhile, Louisville has a way of losing the games it shouldn’t, but it beat College Football Playoff teams Miami and James Madison last year.
This is a big moment for the Cardinal program, and it’ll rise to meet it in a blast of a back-and-forth firefight.
Louisville 31, SMU 28
Latest Consensus Line: Louisville -1.5, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2
Must See Rating (out of 5): 4.5
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 9:56 PM.