Free NCAA Pick: SMU vs. Penn State Odds
Looking for SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions free NCAA College Football Playoff First Round Game picks & NCAA odds? NCAA betting sees the Mustangs taking on the Nittany Lions on Saturday, December 21st at the Beaver Stadium. Cappers Picks provides complimentary NCAA handicapping picks all season long including all Bowl & CFP Playoff games so stay tuned for more FREE NCAA predictions like this SMU Penn State matchup.
2024 NCAAF Handicapping Analysis: College Football Playoff First Round Game
CFP Playoffs
(11-2) SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2)
Date: Saturday, December 21st
Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
College Football Playoff First Round Game ATS Betting Lines: (BET NOW!) SMU +9 | Penn State -9
College Football Playoff First Round Game CFB Moneyline Odds: SMU +257 | Penn State -330
College Football Betting Total: O/U 53.5
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Get ready for an electrifying showdown in the College Football Playoff First Round! The SMU Mustangs (11-2) square off against the Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2), rekindling a matchup we haven’t seen since 1978 when Penn State eked out a 26-21 win.
This time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. SMU’s high-octane offense earned them their playoff spot, but they face a Penn State squad built on defensive grit and clutch performances.
With kickoff set for 12:00 ET from Beaver Stadium in University Park, this first-round College Football Playoff matchup between the Mustangs and Nittany Lions is one to watch.
Both teams enter the game with an 11-2 record, and the Nittany Lions are favored by -9 points.
The over/under line is currently at 53.5 points, and you can catch the action on TNT. Moneyline odds favor the Nittany Lions at -330, but don’t sleep on SMU’s ability to keep things interesting as +257 underdogs.
With history, pride, and a shot at glory on the line, this game promises plenty of drama for fans and bettors alike.
SMU Mustangs
SMU heads into their CFP Playoff matchup against Penn State with an 11-2 record. They’ve been strong on the road at 4-0, while their home record stands at 5-2. The Mustangs have been favored in nine of their 13 games, going 7-2 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin this season is +17.7 points.
Against the spread, SMU is 7-4 overall, with a 3-1 record on the road and 4-3 at home. As the favorite, they are 5-4 ATS, and they’ve covered both games as the underdog.
SMU’s over/under record is 6-5, with their games averaging 59.4 points. The average over/under line this season is 54.2 points, and this week’s line is set at 53.5 points.
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SMU Mustangs Stats
Heading into the CFP Playoffs, SMU’s offense is ranked 22nd in our power rankings, and they are 6th in points per game, scoring 38.5. Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown for 3,050 yards, with a passer rating of 105, and he has completed 66% of his passes, leading to 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
SMU is 15th in passing yards per game, averaging 267, and they are 17th in rushing attempts, with 181.1 yards per game on the ground. Brashard Smith has rushed for 1,267 yards and 14 touchdowns. Roderick Daniels Jr. has 599 receiving yards this season.
SMU’s defense has been strong against the run this season, ranking 9th nationally by allowing just 94.5 rushing yards per game. In their latest game, they held Clemson to 64 rushing yards on 32 attempts. However, they gave up 262 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air, contributing to a 34-31 loss.
Opposing quarterbacks have completed 55.6% of their passes against SMU, averaging a passer rating of 77.1. On average, SMU’s defense has faced 35.8 pass attempts per game, allowing 232.7 passing yards, which ranks 113th nationally.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State enters their CFP Playoff matchup against SMU with an 11-2 record. They’ve gone 6-1 at home and 4-1 on the road this season. The Nittany Lions have been favored in 10 of their 13 games, going 10-0 as the favorite.
They’ve covered the spread in six of their 13 games, with an ATS record of 6-6. At home, they are 3-4 against the spread, and they’ve gone 3-2 on the road. As favorites, they are 6-4 ATS.
The over/under line for this week is 53.5 points. Penn State’s games have averaged 50 points, and their over/under record is 5-7. Their average line this season has been 49.8 points.
Penn State Nittany Lions Stats
Heading into the CFP Playoffs, Penn State’s offense ranks 22nd in points per game, scoring 33.6, but they are 4th in our offensive power rankings. They have been strong on the ground, averaging 203.6 rushing yards per game on 37.5 attempts.
Nicholas Singleton leads the rushing attack with 838 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and has scored seven touchdowns. Quarterback Drew Allar has thrown for 2,894 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 109.
Despite a rough outing against Oregon, where they allowed 45 points and 469 total yards, Penn State’s defense has been strong this season, ranking 10th nationally by giving up just 16.4 points per game. Against Oregon, they allowed 186 rushing yards and 283 passing yards, including four passing touchdowns.
On average, Penn State’s defense has allowed 106.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 18th in the country. Opposing quarterbacks have managed a 58.2% completion rate and a passer rating of 77.3 against the Nittany Lions, averaging 178.5 passing yards per game.
SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Football Betting Trends
- The SMU Mustangs are 3-2 in their last five games as an underdog.
- Conversely, the Penn State Nittany Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a favorite.
- Also, the SMU Mustangs are 5-5 ATS in their last ten road games.
- On the other side, the Penn State Nittany Lions have gone 6-4 across their last ten home games.
- Over the SMU Mustangs’ last 3 road games, the over/under record is 1-2.
- The Penn State Nittany Lions’ have an over/under record of 3-0 in their last 3 games at home.
4* Free College Football Playoff First Round Game NCAA Betting Prediction: SMU +9
SMU is the road underdog in their week one matchup against Penn State, with the Nittany Lions favored by -9. Our projections have Penn State winning straight-up, but we like SMU to cover the spread with a final score of 27-21 in favor of Penn State.
For the over/under, with the line set at 53.5 points, our projection of 48 points suggests that taking the under is the best play.
Buckle up—it’s playoff football at its finest!
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SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Betting Tweet Of The Day
Coming soon…#WeAre x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/PsRHP6UDxw
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 16, 2024
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