Miami might be plastered everywhere as the biggest favorite at -136 odds to win the ACC title, but does anyone really buy that hype? There’s another team on the board that looks like a straight-up steal. Their quarterback is already making so much noise his coach is printing T-shirts about it.
The Hurricanes Are a Mirage
Seriously, what are Vegas oddsmakers seeing that the rest of us aren’t? Miami just lost the CFP national championship game last season, and they are supposed to be a shoo-in for the ACC? Get real. This program hasn’t won an ACC title since joining in 2004, and they didn’t even make the ACC Championship Game last year. Plus, they have massive holes to fill: pass rush demons Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, four key offensive line stalwarts, and quarterback Carson Beck. Betting on the Hurricanes at -136 with all those question marks is a huge risk, especially when SMU (+700), Louisville (+800), and Clemson (+1400) offer way better value.
Kevin Jennings and the SMU Takeover
If you want real value, look no further than SMU. At the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last week, coach Rhett Lashlee didn’t just talk a big game. He unbuttoned his shirt, not because he was hot, but to reveal a white T-shirt screaming “JENNINGS FOR HEISMAN.” That is the kind of energy you need! The case for SMU starts and ends with fifth-year senior quarterback Kevin Jennings. This Dallas native is one of the most prolific and winningest signal callers returning, making him a legitimate stiff-arm statuette contender. He is 18-6 over the past two seasons, ranking third nationally in wins. Jennings also piled up 6,886 passing yards, third in the FBS, and tossed 49 touchdowns, tied for eighth, in that same two-year span. He led the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff two years ago, and they barely missed the ACC Championship Game last season after a convoluted tiebreaker. Their 9-4 record last year doesn’t tell the full story either: they led in the fourth quarter in all four losses, and three defeats came down to the final play. Oh, and get this: they already beat eventual CFP runner-up Miami 26-20 in Dallas. That’s a statement win if there ever was one.
So, with months still on the clock before this season’s conference title game, ditch the idea of riding with Miami at their laughable price. The smart move is to back SMU, because Kevin Jennings is poised to absolutely explode. The Mustangs have been right there, knocking on the door, for a couple of seasons now. With Jennings at the helm, they are ready to burst through and snatch that ACC trophy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply