SMU vs. Arizona Prediction, Odds, Picks - January 2, 2026

Updated Jan. 2, 2026 3:04 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Holiday Bowl features a matchup between the SMU Mustangs (who are only 1.5-point favorites) and the Arizona Wildcats on January 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The point total is set at 51.5 for the contest.

The Mustangs lost versus the California Golden Bears in their most recent game, 38-35. The Wildcats' last contest was versus the Arizona State Sun Devils, and they won by a score of 23-7.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

SMU vs. Arizona Game Information & Odds

When: Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
Location: Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California
TV: FOX
Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)

SMU vs Arizona Betting Information updated as of January 2, 2026, 2:45 p.m. ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
SMU	-1.5 (-106)	-115	-104	51.5	-114	-106

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SMU vs. Arizona Prediction

Pick ATS: Arizona (+1.5)
Pick OU: Over (51.5)
Prediction: Arizona 28, SMU 24

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

Learn more about the SMU Mustangs vs. the Arizona Wildcats game on FOX Sports!

SMU vs. Arizona Betting Insights

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Mustangs 26, Wildcats 25.
The Mustangs have a 53.5% chance to collect the win in this game based on the moneyline's implied probability. The Wildcats have a 51.0% implied probability.
SMU has covered five times in 11 chances against the spread this season.
Arizona has put together a 7-4-0 ATS record so far this year.

SMU vs. Arizona: 2025 Stats Comparison

	SMU	Arizona
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	32.9 (38)	32.6 (43)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	20.7 (21)	18.9 (11)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	16 (63)	12 (16)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	27 (5)	28 (3)

SMU 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Kevin Jennings	QB	3,363 YDS (66.1%) / 26 TD / 10 INT 51 RUSH YDS / 4 RUSH TD / 4.3 RUSH YPG
Tomarion Harden	RB	746 YDS / 7 TD / 62.2 YPG / 4.6 YPC 19 REC / 99 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 12.4 REC YPG
Jordan Hudson	WR	56 REC / 749 YDS / 6 TD / 74.9 YPG
Chris Johnson Jr.	RB	463 YDS / 4 TD / 46.3 YPG / 7.5 YPC 16 REC / 176 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 17.6 REC YPG
Ahmaad Moses	DB	67 TKL / 4 TFL / 1 SACK / 5 INT
Isaiah Smith	DL	36 TKL / 11 TFL / 9 SACK
Isaiah Nwokobia	DB	64 TKL / 0 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Cam Robertson	DL	32 TKL / 6 TFL / 5 SACK

Arizona 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Noah Fifita	QB	2,963 YDS (64%) / 26 TD / 5 INT 149 RUSH YDS / 3 RUSH TD / 12.4 RUSH YPG
Ismail Mahdi	RB	785 YDS / 4 TD / 65.4 YPG / 6.4 YPC 13 REC / 96 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 10.7 REC YPG
Kris Hutson	WR	57 REC / 740 YDS / 4 TD / 74 YPG
Kedrick Reescano	RB	394 YDS / 9 TD / 43.8 YPG / 4.7 YPC
Dalton Johnson	DB	64 TKL / 1 TFL / 1 SACK / 4 INT
Taye Brown	LB	63 TKL / 5 TFL / 1.5 SACK / 1 INT
Chase Kennedy	LB	23 TKL / 4 TFL / 4 SACK
Genesis Smith	DB	40 TKL / 0 TFL / 1 INT / 4 PD