SMU vs. Duke prediction and betting tips - October 26 | College Football Week 9

The No. 22 SMU Mustangs are set to travel to Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, to take on the Duke Blue Devils. This Week 9 Atlantic Coast Conference clash will be one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the weekend.

Both teams enter this weekend with identical 6-1 records, with each team near the top of the standings in the ACC. Duke (2-1 ACC) is coming off a 23-16 win over Florida State and are quietly putting together a Top 25-caliber campaign.

Meanwhile, SMU (3-0 ACC) is living up to their high expectations in their first season in the ACC. The Mustangs are coming off a dominant 40-10 win over Stanford in their last game, extending their win streak to four games after a loss to the BYU Cougars earlier this season.

Here are predictions and betting tips for this ACC showdown.

SMU vs. Duke: Prediction

Despite playing at home, the Blue Devils enter this weekend as an 11.5-point underdog versus the No. 22 team in the country. Duke's defense, which is allowing the fewest points per game in the ACC (17.3), will have their work cut out against the fourth-best scoring offense in the conference.

The Mustangs are favored in this matchup due to some inconsistencies from the Blue Devils' offense. While the Blue Devils boast the ACC's top defense (17.3 PPG), their offense ranks third-lowest in scoring (25.9 PPG). SMU, a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball, presents Duke's toughest challenge of the season

SMU vs. Duke: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Total Points Over 48.5 (-110)

Tip 2: Duke Blue Devils +11.5 (-110)

Tip 3: Duke Blue Devils Total Points Over 17.5 (Even)

SMU vs. Duke: Head-to-Head

This weekend's matchup will mark just the third meeting between SMU and Duke and the first since October 13, 1956. The Blue Devils are 2-0 in the series, having emerged victorious 14-7 in their first meeting in 1952 and 14-6 in their second meeting.