There are twelve teams vying for the national championship this season, including Penn State. And the Nittany Lions have a good chance of winning it all after Sunday’s College Football Playoff announcement.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Penn State has the fifth-best odds at +600 to win the national championship. A $10 bet would result in a $60 profit at those odds.
On the national title market, Penn State is only surpassed by Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and Oregon. The Big Ten champion Ducks are at +380, while Georgia and Texas are tied for first place at +360. At +500, the Buckeyes are slightly ahead of the Nittany Lions.
These are the odds for each of the 12 teams who qualified for the College Football Playoffs to win the national championship.
Tennessee: +2500; Indiana: +4000; SMU:+4500; Arizona State:+6000; Clemson:+6000; Boise State:+7500; Ohio State:+500; Penn State:+600; Notre Dame:+1200; Texas:+360; Georgia:+360; Oregon:+380;
When the selection committee announced its 12-team bracket on Sunday afternoon, Penn State was given a favorable CFP draw. The Nittany Lions, who earned the sixth seed, will play SMU, the eleventh seed, at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, December 21.
FanDuel Sportsbook began Penn State as a 7 1/2-point favorite over SMU. At noon, the Nittany Lions and Mustangs will play. TNT will broadcast the game.
James Franklin and the Nittany Lions will play Boise State in the CFP quarterfinals if they defeat SMU after facing Oregon head-to-head in the Big Ten title game.
Games in the first round
No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, Friday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m., ABC
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU on Saturday, December 21 (noon, TNT)
Saturday, December 21: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson (ACC champion) (4 p.m., TNT)
Saturday, December 21: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee (8 p.m., ABC)
Qualifaction matches
Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl are neutral venues for the quarterfinals.
No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee victor
No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame/No. 10 Indiana winner
No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State/No. 11 SMU victor
No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Clemson victor
Games in the semifinals
January 9: Miami’s Orange Bowl
January 10: Arlington, Texas’s Cotton Bowl Classic
National title
January 20: Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Stories by
Johnny McGonigal
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