SMU did lose to a FCS team but that team is ranked #4 in the FCS Coaches Poll and has former Georgia Tech starter Vad Lee starting for them at QB. SMU has played both Baylor and TCU already this year so their 1-3 record can be misleading.
I think that Virginia Tech was caught totally off guard as to how good James Summers, East Carolina's backup (for now) QB, could run the football. Fans were expecting Summers to get some snaps against the Hokies but never thought he could put on a rushing show like he did.
East Carolina is still planning to share snaps at SMU between Summers and Kemp. This doesn't appear to be an issue with the QBs for the time being since Summers was expecting to play WR and Kemp was slated as the #2 QB until last year's #2, Benkert, went down with an ACL injury shortly before the first game.
Some newspapers in North Carolina were projecting a 1-5 start for East Carolina after the thumping they took at Navy. Saturday was an emotional win probably with a little relief tossed in as well.
I think that this line is too high. It's not taking into consideration how good JMU is and that SMU played a solid first half against Baylor and three quarters against TCU.
I won't bet against my Pirates in this situation but I sure won't give 5.5 points to a battle tested SMU team.