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Parlay: SMU Mustangs VS Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2025-10-25

SMU vs. Wake Forest: A Clash of ACC Ambitions
The SMU Mustangs (5-2, 3-0 ACC) and Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-2, 1-2 ACC) collide in a Week 9 showdown that’s as much about pride as it is about playoff positioning. Let’s break down the numbers, news, and nonsense to find the best same-game parlay.

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Parse the Odds: Numbers Don’t Lie (Mostly)
The odds tell a story of SMU as a slight favorite, with moneyline prices hovering around -150 to -200 (implied probability: ~61-64%) and Wake Forest at +225 to +250 (31-33%). The spread is SMU -3.5 (-110 to -115) across most books, while the total sits at 53.5 points (even money).

Key stats:
- SMU’s Kevin Jennings is a pocket-passer extraordinaire, throwing 17 TDs with just 2 INTs. His ankle injury? “It’s a sprain, not a resignation,” says coach Rhett Lashlee.
- Wake Forest’s QB situation is a Russian nesting doll of uncertainty. Starter Robby Ashford (thumb) is “practice-ready” but not guaranteed to play, while backup Deshawn Purdie threw four TDs last week—proof that “Plan B” can sometimes outshine Plan A.
- Defensively, SMU ranks 11th in the ACC in points allowed (19.8 PPG), while Wake Forest checks in at 10th (21.3 PPG). Neither is a fortress, but SMU’s D has quietly stifled ACC offenses this season.

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Digest the News: Injuries, Momentum, and QB Chaos
- SMU’s Jennings is a warrior, but his ankle injury raises questions. Imagine a quarterback with the mobility of a statue and the arm of a sniper—if the statue doesn’t sprain its ankle mid-sentence.
- Wake Forest’s “QB carousel” is either a strength or a circus act. Purdie’s four-TD performance was impressive, but can he replicate it? And will Ashford’s return add stability or confusion? Coach Jake Dickert’s “non-committal” stance is about as helpful as a weather forecast that says, “Maybe rain.”
- Momentum favors SMU, which has won 11 straight ACC games since joining the conference. Wake Forest, meanwhile, is 1-2 in their last three, including a bye week that’s as refreshing as a nap after a 14-hour road trip.

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Humorous Spin: Puns, Puns, and More Puns
SMU’s offense is like a Netflix series you can’t stop bingeing—addictive, efficient, and with zero intention of ending. Jennings? He’s the “pocket magician,” pulling rabbits (TDs) out of hats (end zones).

Wake Forest’s QB situation, though, is a comedy of errors. If this were a movie, it’d be titled “The Backup Plan: A Deshawn Purdie Story”—starring Robby Ashford in a recurring role as ‘Mystery Guest.’ Their defense? A well-meaning group of students trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.

And let’s not forget the total points line. At 53.5, this game feels like a tense game of “Let’s see who blinks first.” Under 53.5? Please. These teams score like a bakery at a carb convention.

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Prediction: The Parlay Playbook
Best Same-Game Parlay:
1. SMU -3.5 (-110 to -115): With Jennings healthy-ish and Wake Forest’s QB chaos, SMU’s offense should exploit gaps like a toddler with a hole in their sock.
2. Under 53.5 Total Points (-110): Both defenses are leaky, but SMU’s D has enough grit to keep this from becoming a track meet. Wake Forest’s offense? They’ll sputter if Ashford isn’t 100%.

Why It Works: SMU’s balanced attack (17 TDs, 2nd in ACC passing) and Wake Forest’s shaky QB situation make the spread a safe bet. The Under hinges on SMU’s D slowing Purdie and Wake’s offense not finding its rhythm.

Final Verdict: SMU wins 27-20, and the Under 53.5 hits because both teams’ defenses play like they’re in a penalty shootout. Bet it like you’re buying a lottery ticket—with the confidence of someone who’s seen the script.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. And if you can beat ‘em? Take the spread and a nap.”

Created: Oct. 25, 2025, 2:40 p.m. GMT