SMU vs. Penn State odds, prediction, and prop bets for College Football Playoff

In a heavyweight clash in Happy Valley, the College Football Playoff begins as No. 6 Penn State (11-2, 6-7 ATS) takes on No. 11 SMU (11-2, 8-5 ATS) for the opportunity to play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Despite the Nittany Lions’ recent eight-point loss to Oregon, the top bookmakers in Pennsylvania have Penn State favored by more than a touchdown in this game. Among the five College Football Playoff first-round games, this one had the highest total of 54 points. There may be light snowfall and temperatures in the mid-20s according to the weather forecast for this game.

The top betting odds for Saturday’s Penn State vs. SMU game are shown here.

Penn State poised for playoff run

After a successful season in which they competed for the Big Ten championship, the Nittany Lions are now in the College Football Playoffs. In the Big Ten Championship, Penn State lost to Oregon 45-37 after struggling against the nation’s top team. The Nittany Lions had rallied from a 28-10 disadvantage.

Highlights of Tyler Warren!sAvn1XaUpu https://t.co/x9wgZHvdTUpic.twitter.com

Drew Allar completed 20 of 39 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating his consistency in that contest. However, he did throw two interceptions. With 225 running yards and two touchdowns between Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State’s ground game continued to be strong.

Penn State’s best chance in this game comes from that offense. The Nittany Lions finished 24th in the league with an average of 33.6 points per game this season, but they will be up against a formidable SMU team that has never played this kind of power game. Given the weather for this game, Penn State’s offensive line may be the main emphasis. This season, the team’s excellent running backs have averaged over five yards per rush.

Under head coach James Franklin, Penn State has lost five of its last eight bowl games, indicating a recent slump.

SMU Seeks Legitimization

The Mustangs’ ferocious offensive attack propelled them to the championship game in their debut season as ACC members. SMU has played at a pace that most opponents are hesitant to match, averaging 36.8 points per game, which is the eighth-highest in the country. In the ACC championship game, the Mustangs lost to Clemson due to a few costly mistakes.

After making a number of blunders in the first half against the Tigers, SMU fell behind, but in an exciting second half, the Mustangs outscored Clemson 24–10. In addition to his 310 passing yards, Kevin Jennings recorded four touchdowns in that game—three passing and one rushing. In the first quarter, SMU’s defense gave up 120 yards and three touchdowns as they failed to stop Clemson’s passing assault.

Kevin Jennings@SMUFB|@SMUMustangspic.twitter.com/OA7WoVh7pq put on a performance worthy of a playoff game.

In order to make Penn State rely on the throw, the Mustangs’ attack will try to play quickly. This season, SMU’s defense has been quite successful against the run, holding eight different opponents to less than 100 rushing yards. Although the Mustangs held opponents to 2.8 yards per carry, Penn State’s rushing game was superior.

Since 2012, SMU has gone 0–4 and hasn’t won a bowl game. Head coach Rhett Lashlee has a 0–2 record going into the bowl season.

Penn State vs. SMU best bets

There are a number of exciting opportunities for bettors at Pennsylvania’s best sportsbooks during the College Football Playoffs’ opening round. These gifted teams bring strong defenses and potent attacks to this crucial matchup. Here are the top three picks for Saturday’s Penn State vs. SMU game.

1. SMU at BetMGM Sportsbook +8.5 (-105)

The Nittany Lions have occasionally faltered in crucial games under James Franklin, despite Penn State starting as one of the top teams in the country. For a strong offense like SMU’s, a spread of over nine points might be too much.

Over DraftKings Sportsbook’s 54.0 (-112)

This matchup features two strong defenses, despite the fact that SMU comes in with one of the nation’s top scoring attacks. The weather may potentially play a role in Penn State’s attempt to slow down the game.

3. Tyler Warren @ FanDuel Sportsbook over 70.5 receiving yards (-114)

This season, Tyler Warren has been one of the best players in all of college football. Because of his versatility, Penn State has been able to get him the ball in a number of positions, which only makes this individual prop bet more valuable.

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