The first 12-team College Football Playoff is down to its Final Four. One of the College Football Betting matchups takes place on Thursday night at the Orange Bowl. Specifically, the Penn State Nittany Lions will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The winner will advance to the national championship game. Penn State is coming off a quarterfinal win over the Boise State Broncos. Meanwhile, Notre Dame manhandled the mighty Georgia Bulldogs in their quarterfinal matchup. Two non-SEC teams fighting for a berth in the final is proof of a new age in college football.
Orange Bowl Notre Dame vs. Penn State College Football Playoff Semifinal
| Date and Time: | Thursday, January 9, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | -2 -110 | 45 -110 | -135 |  |
| Penn State | +2 -110 | 45 -110 | +115 | |
| ||||
Penn State Nittany Lions Team Overview
Last game, the Penn State Nittany Lions won 31-14 against the Boise State Broncos as 11.5-point favorites. The game went under the total of 54.5. Penn State has a record of 13-2 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the online betting total. Penn State ranks 28th for total offense, 60th for passing, 20th for rushing and 25th for scoring. Defensively they rank 4th overall, 26th against the pass, 8th against the rush, and 7th for points allowed. Also, Penn State ranks 35th for fewest turnovers lost and 6th for takeaways.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin is derisively known as “Big Game James.” Cause by his poor record against the top teams in college football. But Franklin can change the narrative on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With a win, Big Game James will take his Nittany Lions to the national championship game. But Notre Dame is coming off a dominant win over the Georgia Bulldogs at the Sugar Bowl in the quarterfinal round. Indeed, Penn State has its hands full.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Overview
Last game, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 23-10 against the Georgia Bulldogs as 1-point favorites. The game went under the College Football Betting total of 45. Notre Dame has a record of 13-1 straight up, 10-2 against the spread, and 7-5 over/under the total. Notre Dame ranks 53rd for total offense, 110th for passing, 13th for rushing and 3rd for scoring. Defensively they rank 7th overall, 4th against the pass, 33rd against the rush, and 2nd for points allowed. Also, Notre Dame ranks 25th for fewest turnovers lost and 4th for takeaways.
Consider that when head coach Brian Kelly deserted the Notre Dame Fighting Irish when they were still in the race for the 2021 College Football Playoff. Hence, his departure was seen as a sign that the school would never be able to win a national championship. Kelly went to LSU, where it was thought to be easier to win a natty.
Subsequently, Marcus Freeman was Kelly’s defensive coordinator, whom Notre Dame promoted. Freeman was seen to have the potential because of his ability to relate to modern players. Now, Notre Dame is in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Orange Bowl SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Notre Dame’s body of work is more impressive. Its win over Georgia was the ultimate proof of its rise. Penn State’s workmanlike win over a lesser Boise State team is less impressive in comparison.
Orange Bowl SBG Best Bet: Notre Dame Fighting Irish.