Week 8 · College Football

California vs SMU prediction

The TailgateNinjas model gives SMU a 75% chance to beat California in this College Football matchup. Updated August 29, 2026.

#64 Atlantic Coast Conference

California

7% to make the 12

@

#23 Atlantic Coast Conference

SMU

18% to make the 12

The model's read

SpreadSMU −10.5Model
Projected scoreCalifornia 21 — SMU 31

SMU should handle it: 10.5-point edge, 75% to win.

Chaos meter50 · LEAN
50/ 100
CalmMayhem

California

25%

to win

SMU

75%

to win

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Tale of the tape

2025 efficiency · ranks
California
vs
SMU
#93Offense · EPA/play#22
#75Defense · EPA/play#11
#64Explosiveness#10
#89Success rate#54
23%Returning production50%

National ranks from last season (1 = best). The 2026 outlook builds on this.

Series history

3 meetings all-time

SMU leads 2–1

Last met 2025 · California 38–35 SMU— California won

Both sidelines

via Google News

What California is hearing

What SMU is hearing

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