Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs SMU Mustangs Betting Pick & Prediction for 1/2

The 2025 Trust & Will Holiday Bowl is set to be an exciting postseason game. The Arizona Wildcats will face the SMU Mustangs at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. This game is scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on FOX.

Arizona comes into this game with a 9-3 record, holding the #21 spot in the AP rankings. SMU finished the regular season with an 8-4 record. This will be an important game for both teams as they look to end their season on a high note. The odds show Arizona as a slight favorite with a spread of -3.0.

Arizona Team Preview

The Arizona Wildcats have shown strong performances in their recent games. They defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 23-7. In that game, they gained 286 passing yards and limited the Sun Devils to just 114 passing yards.

Arizona also had a good game against the Baylor Bears, winning 41-17. They gained 183 passing yards and 172 rushing yards. Their defense forced two fumbles from Baylor and intercepted the ball twice.

Quarterback Noah Fifita has been a key player for Arizona. He has 2,963 passing yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Running back Ismail Mahdi has contributed with 785 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: Arizona vs SMU Game Day Info

• Sport: NCAA Football
• Teams: Arizona Wildcats vs. SMU Mustangs
• Venue: Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA
• Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
• Betting Odds: Arizona Moneyline -150, SMU Moneyline +125, Arizona Spread -3.0 (-106), SMU Spread +3.0 (-114), Total Over 51.5 (-114), Total Under 51.5 (-108)

SMU Team Preview

The SMU Mustangs have shown a strong performance at home this season. They secured a convincing 38-6 win over the Louisville Cardinals at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Their offense gained 307 passing yards and 178 rushing yards, leading to 28 first downs in that game.

In recent games, SMU’s quarterback Kevin Jennings has been a key player. He has accumulated 3,363 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in 12 games. Running back TJ Harden also contributed with 746 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

SMU’s defense has been solid, ranking 7th in sacks with 35 and recovering 8 fumbles. However, injuries might impact their upcoming games. Several players, including Aakil Washington and Jonathan Jefferson, are listed as questionable with undisclosed injuries.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread, take SMU to cover at +3.0 (-114). Arizona has shown improvement this season, ranking 31st in points for, but SMU’s offense is slightly better, ranking 29th. With Arizona’s defense allowing 227 points, SMU has a chance to keep it close or win outright.

The total for the game is set at 51.5. Both teams have strong offenses, with Arizona scoring 391 points and SMU scoring 395. With both defenses ranked in the mid-to-lower tiers, expect a higher-scoring game. The over 51.5 (-114) looks likely with a projected score of Arizona 28, SMU 27.