SMU vs Penn State prediction & betting tips - Dec. 21 - College Football Playoff

The SMU Mustangs go on the road to play the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, December 21 at noon ET in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The game can be seen on TNT.

SMU (11-2) lost 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game. Penn State (11-2) is coming off a 45-37 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game.

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SMU vs Penn State: Preview

SMU is an 8.5-point underdog while the over/under is set at 54 points.

The Mustangs got into the college football playoff despite losing in the ACC Championship Game to Clemson. SMU now has to go on the road to play Penn State on campus at noon which should be a rowdy game.

The Mustangs were a surprise team in the ACC and despite Penn State being a big favorite, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin isn't overlooking SMU.

“Rhett Lashlee’s done a really, really good job. You look at his background as an offensive coordinator and what he’s been able to do in a short period of time at SMU is really cool," Franklin said, via Lonestar Live.

"I think it’s good for college football, a place like SMU with a lot of history and traditions and to see them in the playoffs. They way they’re constructed is a little different than the way we are constructed. I think they have 48 players from the transfer portal; we have nine.”

SMU is led by quarterback Kevin Jennings who's thrown for 3,050 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Brashard Smith has rushed for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Defensively, SMU is led by Jahfari Harvey who has 7 sacks, as a team they have 15 interceptions, and Kobe Wilson leads the team with 110 tackles.

Penn State, meanwhile, snuck into the Big Ten championship game and had a shootout with Oregon. The Nittany Lions are led by quarterback Drew Allar who announced he will return to the school in 2025.

Allar has thrown for 2,894 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Although he has had success, Allar knows the SMU defense will pose problems to him.

“What stands out to me is they’re an extremely fast defense. They’re extremely fast on the back end, especially at linebacker," Allar said. "Their linebackers can run sideline to sideline and you know they’re a physical team as well, so they do a lot of good things defensively. They have a lot of really good players on that side of the ball.”

The Nittany Lions are also led by Tyler Warren who has caught 88 passes for 1,062 yards and 6 touchdowns. Nicholas Singleton has 838 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Penn State's offense is legit as the Nittany Lions should be able to score against this SMU defense. The Clemson Tigers should a way to carve up the Mustangs' defense as Allar is legit and will be able to have success passing the ball.

Ultimately, the atmosphere at Beaver Stadium will also help Penn State's defense as the Nittany Lions will cruise to a big win here.

Prediction: Penn State 28, SMU 17

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SMU vs Penn State: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Penn State -8.5 (-110)

Tip 2: Under 54 points (-112)

Tip 3: Tyler Warren anytime TD scorer (-160)