After a seemingly endless debate, the team of 12 College football The playoffs are here and the first game of Saturday’s three-game set will take place at Penn State Beaver Stadium where the No. 6 seed Nittany Lions host the ACC’s second seed and No. 11 seed. EMS. It will take four wins for either team to win the national championship, and it’s a tough first-round matchup for Penn State and SMU. The winner will face the Mountain West champion and No. 3 seed. Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Both teams enter the game with losses in their respective conference championship games, with Penn State falling to Oregon and SMU loses to Clemson on a last-second basket. Saturday will mark the third all-time meeting between these two programs and the first since Penn State beat the Mustangs 26-21 at Beaver Stadium during the 1978 season.
The time to talk has come and now it’s time for the Nittany Lions and Mustangs to take the field Saturday for the right to travel to New Year’s Eve for a matchup with the Broncos. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know ahead of this highly anticipated College Football Playoff first round showdown between Penn State and SMU.
Penn State vs. SMU: Need to Know
First playoff appearance for both programs: When looking for an example of two programs benefiting from the expanded field, look no further than this game. Although this is the first CFP appearance for both, Penn State has always been considered the poster child programs that would benefit most from expansion. The Nittany Lions typically find themselves in the top 12 each season, but were always behind. Ohio State Or Michigan in the hierarchical order. As for SMU, it’s a testament to self-confidence. SMU joined the ACC without a cut to the league’s television revenue because it wanted a chance to prove itself at the Power Four level. All Coach Rhett Lashlee and his team did was reach the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff in their first season in the ACC.
The backup QBs for both teams can be found in the transfer portal: However, different approaches are taken here. EMS Peter Preston started the season as the team’s starter but lost his job to Kevin Jennings. Stone is still with the team and will stay with them during their playoff run while continuing to look for a spot elsewhere. Penn State’s Beau Pribula saw plenty of snaps as part of a unique offensive package with the Nittany Lions this year, but he left the team after entering the portal. If one of the starting QBs goes down due to injury, SMU would be in a better position than Penn State.
The weather could have an impact: The most interesting part of the on-campus games for the first round is how weather impacts the situation since most teams are not playing in domes. NFL stadiums. The current forecast for Beaver Stadium on Friday calls for temperatures in the 30s with a light wind and possible snow showers.
Where to watch Penn State vs. SMU live
Date: Saturday December 21 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Beaver Stadium — University Park, Pennsylvania
TV:TNT | Live broadcast: MAXIMUM
Penn State vs. SMU Prediction, Picks
While it may snow, the lack of wind is what matters most to me from a game perspective, and I think the total for this game is a little low. Penn State has an exceptional defense, led by All-American Abdul Carterand SMU’s was good, but the match is unique for both teams. SMU’s defensive line hasn’t been as strong against better offensive lines, and that’s a plus for the Nittany Lions. At the same time, Penn State hasn’t seen a quarterback like Jennings this season and might struggle to contain him. It won’t be a tennis match, but don’t be shocked if both teams approach the 30-point mark. Choice: Over 53.5
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