SMU Mustangs vs Penn State Nittany Lions Prediction & Picks - NCAA

Prediction published on 12/19/24, 12:00 PM  by Travis Pulver | Modified on 12/19/24 at 1:33 PM in NCAA Picks

The SMU Mustangs will travel to Pennsylvania to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in the first of three CFP games on the schedule. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 pm ET, and the game will be broadcast on TNT and streamed on Max.

Before the season got underway, SMU was nowhere near the college football playoff conversation. With +700 odds to make the CFP, they had just a 12.5% ​​chance, but after steamrolling through the regular season and losing to Clemson in the ACC title game, the committee decided to give them a shot. If the offense can maintain a quick pace, it could keep the Penn State defense off balance. The defense will certainly pull out all the stops to put pressure on PSU quarterback Drew Allar.

But doing so may be easier said than done if Penn State has its way. The Nittany Lions will likely try to do what they can to keep the ball away from Kevin Jennings and the SMU offense by focusing on the run game. Now, SMU has the No. 7 rush defense in the country this season. However, the Mustangs didn't play too many tough run teams.

Establishing the run will be vital to Penn State winning this game. If they can't, the day may start with an upset (Penn State is favored by 8.5 points).