Cal v. SMU College Football 2025 Betting Odds and Lines
The California Golden Bears are underdogs in their match-up against the Southern Methodist Mustangs, according to the latest odds
The California Golden Bears (6-5, 3-4 ACC) are underdogs against the Southern Methodist Mustangs (8-3, 6-1 ACC), according to the latest college football lines and odds offered by sportsbooks.
Cal v. SMU college football betting pick, odds and lines: Who is favored to win?
According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest college football betting odds for Cal v. SMU is between Cal +13 and Cal +13.5, as of Thursday morning.
The Cal +13.5 line implies the California Golden Bears are about 14-point underdogs compared to the SMU Mustangs.
According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest point totals for Cal v. SMU college football “over-or-under” total score bets is between 52.5 and 53.5 points, as of Thursday morning.
The Cal +13.5 line and 52.5-point total imply the California Golden Bears will lose to the SMU Mustangs with a scoreline of about 33-20.
According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest Cal v. SMU college football “moneyline” ranges between Cal +390 and Cal +425 and SMU -525 and SMU -600, as of Thursday morning.
Moneyline bets pay out based on the Cal v. SMU college football game’s result, regardless of any point “spread” handicap or margin of victory.
A bet on Cal’s most favorable moneyline of Cal +425 pays a $425 profit on a $100 bet, and a wager on SMU’s most favorable moneyline of SMU -525 requires a $525 risk to earn a $100 profit because the SMU Mustangs are the favorites to win.
Cal v. SMU college football: What you should know
The California Golden Bears have a 0-2 all-time record against the SMU Mustangs. SMU beat Cal last season, 38-6, and went on to compete in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
The SMU Mustangs are currently ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, No. 25 in the Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll.
The SMU Mustangs will clinch an appearance in the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by beating the California Golden Bears. SMU, playing its second season in the ACC like Cal, also made the ACC Championship last year.
Last week, the California Golden Bears lost 10-31 to the Stanford Cardinal in the 128th Big Game rivalry contest. Stanford snapped its four-game losing streak with a decisive win in nearly every phase of the game.
Cal fired its head coach on Nov. 23 and will be led by interim coach Nick Rolovich. Rolovich began his coaching career in Berkeley, Calif., this season as a senior offensive assistant coach.
In its last game, the SMU Mustangs rolled to a 38-6 win against the Louisville Cardinals at home. The Mustangs out-gained the Cardinals 485 total yards to 228.
The California Golden Bears have a 3-2 record at home in the 2025 college football season, while the SMU Mustangs have been 3-2 on the road.
According to Vegas Insider, which analyzes and aggregates sportsbooks’ offered odds and lines, the Cal v. SMU college football line opened earlier this week at about Cal +10. The line movement this week indicates that bets have come in heavily for the favorite.
Vegas Insider reports the Cal v. SMU moneyline opened earlier this week at about Cal +310 and SMU -395. The Cal v. SMU total opened earlier this week at about 52.5 points.
The California Golden Bears are 4-6 against the spread this season, while the SMU Mustangs are 5-5 against the spread in the 2025 college football season.
Cal has had four “over” and six “under” games by total score in the 2025 college football season. SMU has had three “over” and seven “under” games so far this season.
According to Vegas Insider’s analysis, 53% of bets on the Cal v. SMU college football game with a point spread have been on the California Golden Bears, but 52% of all dollars wagered with a handicap have been on the SMU Mustangs. Vegas Insider also reports 98% of moneyline bets have been on the favorites, the SMU Mustangs, totaling 84% of all dollars bet on the moneyline.
Bet responsibly. Odds and betting lines can change. Write for California provides betting information for context and entertainment purposes.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
I think it’s important to show up and support the team. I suspect this is a tough game for the team and they need to know we are behind them and that we care. I am grateful for “our stalwarts girded for the fray”.
I think the UNDER bet (<53) is a very good bet this week, as I believe SMU will punch the GBs in the face and the Cal O will turtle. On to the Irrelevant Bowl.