Smu Mustangs vs Stanford Cardinal Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

Stanford, SMU Look to Solidify ACC Standing in Key Matchup

Two former Pac-12 coaches turned ACC contenders will face off Saturday night as Stanford (15-6, 7-3 ACC) takes on SMU (16-5, 7-3 ACC) in Dallas.

Kyle Smith, in his first season at Stanford after coaching at Washington State, has quickly elevated the Cardinal into ACC relevance. On the other side, Andy Enfield, formerly of USC, has helped SMU establish itself as a serious NCAA Tournament hopeful in his debut season with the Mustangs.

Both teams enter the game tied for fourth in the conference, making this a pivotal matchup as they continue their push for postseason positioning.

Stanford’s Strong Run: Can the Cardinal Extend Their Streak?

Stanford enters the game riding a four-game winning streak, its latest victory coming in a 70-61 decision over Syracuse on Wednesday. The Cardinal dominated early, building a massive 25-2 lead, only to see the Orange fight back late in the second half.

Despite the closer-than-expected finish, Stanford big man Maxime Raynaud led the way with 21 points and 15 rebounds, notching his 16th double-double of the season.

Raynaud, a 7-foot-1 junior from France, has been the driving force behind Stanford’s success. He leads the team in scoring (21.2 PPG) and rebounding (11.6 RPG), ranking among the best big men in the ACC.

After the game, Raynaud acknowledged that closing out games remains an area of improvement for the Cardinal.

“I think it was a teaching moment—more than a frustrating moment,” Raynaud said. “It’s really good that we face that now rather than later in the season. We knew they were a really good team. Gotta learn from it.”

Aside from Raynaud, Jaylen Blakes (14.7 PPG) and Oziyah Sellers (13.9 PPG) provide backcourt scoring threats, giving Stanford a balanced offensive attack.

Stanford’s defense has also been improving, holding opponents to under 70 points in three of the past four games. That defensive tenacity will be key against a deep and physical SMU team.

SMU’s Home-Court Advantage: Can the Mustangs Keep Rolling?

SMU has won five of its last six games, most recently securing a 76-65 victory over Cal on Wednesday.

Forward Matt Cross stepped up in the win, posting 15 points and 14 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. He’s averaging 13.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, making him a crucial part of SMU’s interior presence.

Cross played a bigger role with Samet Yigitoglu sidelined due to a shoulder injury. The 7-foot-2 freshman from Turkey has been a key piece for the Mustangs this season, but his status for Saturday’s game remains uncertain.

Yigitoglu showed his ability to handle pressure in SMU’s 63-57 win over NC State last week, knocking down four clutch free throws in the final minutes despite his 62.5% free-throw shooting on the season.

Enfield praised Yigitoglu’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“Very proud of him to go under pressure like that,” Enfield said. “The fans were booing him, and he was able to step up and make all four.”

The Mustangs thrive at home, boasting a 10-2 record on their own court. Their physicality and rebounding—outrebounding Cal 43-32 on Wednesday—will be critical against Stanford’s size.

Key Matchups to Watch

Maxime Raynaud vs. Matt Cross (and possibly Samet Yigitoglu)

Raynaud has been dominant all season, but Cross is coming off back-to-back double-doubles. If Yigitoglu plays, SMU will have extra size to battle Stanford’s star big man.

Stanford’s Perimeter Defense vs. SMU’s Shooters

The Mustangs are shooting 35.8% from three-point range, while Stanford has held teams below 30% in their last two games. Stopping the deep ball could be the difference in this matchup.

SMU’s Bench vs. Stanford’s Starters

SMU relies on balanced scoring, while Stanford leans heavily on Raynaud, Blakes, and Sellers. If SMU’s depth can wear down the Cardinal, it could be a long night for Stanford.

What’s at Stake?

• For Stanford: A win would extend the Cardinal’s winning streak to five games and solidify their position in the upper half of the ACC standings.
• For SMU: The Mustangs need a strong home performance to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation and prove they can compete with the ACC’s top teams.

Final Prediction

This is a battle between two well-coached teams on the rise, but SMU’s home-court advantage and depth may give them the edge. If Yigitoglu plays, SMU will have the size to counter Raynaud, making it even tougher for Stanford to pull off the road win.

Look for a close game, but SMU’s defense and rebounding should be enough to snap Stanford’s winning streak.

Final Score Prediction: SMU 74, Stanford 69

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Conclusion

Stanford and SMU are both exceeding expectations in their first seasons under new coaches. With both teams eyeing the NCAA Tournament, this ACC showdown in Dallas is a must-watch.

Can Stanford keep its win streak alive, or will SMU protect its home floor? Tune in Saturday to find out.