Arizona vs SMU Picks and Predictions for Friday, January 2, 2026

By: Cameron Ross Published 01/02/2026, 01:25 AM ET

Arizona vs SMU Information

The Arizona Wildcats will be in San Diego, CA, on Friday at 8:00 PM to face the SMU Mustangs in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl. Arizona comes into bowl season ranked #17 in the nation with nine wins and three losses overall, riding a long winning streak after a 16-point road victory in their last outing. The SMU Mustangs come into Friday with eight wins and four losses following a three-point road loss to California in their previous outing to end a three-game winning streak.  Stay in the news with our College Football Picks.

Arizona Preview

Noah Fifita leads the Arizona offense this season with 2963 yards and 26 touchdowns on 247 completions. Ismail Mahdi is the top ball carrier on the team with 791 yards and four touchdowns on 123 carries. Kedrick Reescano has added 83 carries for 394 yards and 9 scores. Kris Hutson leads the team with 740 yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches.

SMU Preview

Kevin Jennings leads the SMU offense this season with 3,262 yards and 26 touchdowns on 279 completions. TJ Harden is the top running back on the team with 747 yards and seven scores on 161 carries. Jordan Hudson leads the team with 749 yards and six scores on 56 catches. Romello Brinson has added 43 catches for 638 yards and three scores on 43 grabs.

Arizona vs SMU Prediction

Both teams have had solid enough seasons, as each comes into bowl season with a similar record. Look for Arizona to do the work, however, as they are the better overall team with a deeper, more talented roster. Take the Wildcats to do the job as they get the win and cover Friday night in San Diego to secure their 10th victory of the year and a bowl championship. Final Score Prediction, Arizona Wildcats win and cover 34-27. Betting on sports and on SMU is easy, but even easier if you use the best sportsbooks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Arizona with the social sportsbooks. Getting the most out of your bets on SMU vs Arizona can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

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