SMU (5-4 SU, 4-5 ATS, 3-2 AAC) travels to Tampa to take on South Florida (1-8 SU, 3-6 ATS, 0-5 AAC) on Saturday at 12pmET from Raymond James Stadium.
SMU won this game at home last year 41-17 over USF giving 21.5.
The Mustangs are coming off a record-breaking 77-63 win over Houston on Saturday, while the Bulls were crushed by Temple 54-28 last week. USF will be playing for an interim coach as Jeff Scott was fired on Sunday after the Bulls dropped their seven straight game. Special teams coordinator Daniel De Prato will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Tanner Mordecai threw for nine touchdowns to tie an SMU record for most TDs by a player in their home win from Dallas over Houston last week. Mordecai threw for seven TDs in the first half and 379 passing yards with a rushing TD in the win. Tyler Lavine rushed for 146 yards and one TD to lead a ground game that amassed 263 yards. At the end of the half, SMU had a 56-35 lead. The 140 combined points set the NCAA FBS single-season scoring record for two teams in regulation. SMU also set school records for most points in a game with 77, 11-total touchdowns and nine passing touchdowns scored and 433 total yards in the first half.
“I have never seen anything like that before,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said after the game. “It was just back and forth. ”
?? NEW SCHOOL RECORD ??
Make that NINE total TD's on the night for @T_Mordecai! pic.twitter.com/Z7YYgc9D7U
— SMU FootbaIl (@SMUFB) November 6, 2022
The Mustangs are set for a bowl bid with a win over USF and will end the season at Tulane and host Memphis. They've won two straight and three of four games after losing three straight before beating Navy on Oct. 14. Offensively, this is a great squad that averages 479 yards per game (19th) and 331 passing yards. The defense has been a major issue as they rank 121st overall in total yards allowed (455.3ypg), 98th in passing yards allowed (253.8ypg) and 119th in rushing yards allowed (201.6ypg).
Mordecai has completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,500 yards with 25 TDs and seven picks. He can also run some (171yds, 4 TDs). Rashee Rice leads all receivers with 71 catches for 1,068 yards and eight TDs.