Last week, head coach James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions had an NCAA Football Betting opportunity to change their image. PSU is known for not being able to win the big game. Consider that Franklin is known derisively as “Big Game James.” Cause by his flops on college football’s biggest stages. Last week against the #1 ranked Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten Championship Game, Penn State once again fell short. But it is in the College Football Playoff. Now, Franklin and his Nittany Lions will host the SMU Mustangs, who lost the ACC Championship Game.
College Football Playoff SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
| Date and Time: | Saturday, December 21, 2024, Noon ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Beaver Stadium, University Park, P |
| TV Coverage: | TNT |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | +8½ -110 | 54 -110 | +265 |  |
| Penn State | -8½ -110 | 54 -110 | -325 | |
| ||||
SMU Mustangs Team Overview
Last game, the SMU Mustangs lost 34-31 against the Clemson Tigers as 2.5-point favorites. The game went over the Sports betting total of 56.5. SMU has a record of 11-2 straight up, 8-4 against the spread, and 7-5 over/under the total. SMU ranks 20th for total offense, 26th for passing, 49th for rushing and 6th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 28th overall, 91st against the pass, 4th against the rush, and 28th for points allowed. Also, SMU ranks 110th for fewest turnovers lost and 15th for takeaways.
Penn State Nittany Lions Team Overview
Last game, the Penn State Nittany Lions lost 45-37 against the Oregon Ducks as 3-point dogs. The game went over the NCAA Football Betting total of 51. Penn State has a record of 11-2 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. Penn State ranks 15th for total offense, 41st for passing, 19th for rushing, and 25th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 6th overall, 16th against the pass, 9th against the rush, and 8th for points allowed. Also, PSU ranks 32nd for fewest turnovers lost and 46th for takeaways.
Penn State will host SMU in a first-round game of the College Football Playoff. Now comes a new era of college football with one of the game’s best-known atmospheres at Beaver Stadium. The playoff game will kick off as part of a two-day playoff festival four days before Christmas.
Penn State fell one spot to No. 4 in the final CFP rankings. Hence, they earned the No. 6 seed after the top four conference champions received first-round byes. The Nittany Lions remained behind SEC runner-up Texas. But they are above Notre Dame and Ohio State after losing 45-37 to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The winner of the Penn State-SMU game will face third-seeded Boise State. Accordingly, BSU is the Mountain West champ in a quarterfinal game at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. SMU, the No. 11 seed, remained above Clemson in both the seeds and rankings. Despite losing the ACC title game to the Tigers on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions were bitterly disappointed after their 45-37 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. Still, they attempted to train their view forward toward the playoff.
SMU at Penn State SBG Free Picks
Penn State will draw most of the betting on college football action as the bigger brand and Big Ten membership. Still, SMU can stay within the number as a good road team with a more favorable price.
SMU at Penn State SBG Best Bet: SMU Mustangs.