Penn State is playing SMU today, and here are some things fans might want to know.
It’s a day unlike any in the history of either program: for the first time ever, each team is in the College Football Playoff.
For Penn State, anything short of a Playoff berth would have been a massive disappointment to the program and its fan base.
On the contrary, not many people expected SMU to be here. Although both teams had different paths, both got here helped by strong runnings games, quarterback play and defense. But the odds are in Penn State’s favor.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Drew Allar
As expected, Penn State is the favorite over SMU, being -8.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook. PSU is playing at home, and is the higher seed (No. 6 vs. No. 11). Coach James Franklin and his teams have done quite well as the favorite in recent years. This season, Penn State is 11-0 when favored. Last year, it went 10-1, with the lone loss coming in the Peach Bowl to Ole Miss when several key players for Penn State either opted out of the game to focus on the NFL Draft or were playing on a limited snap count for the same purpose. In 2022, Penn State finished 11-0 as the favorite. Add all that up, and PSU is 32-1 against the spread since the start of 2022.
HOW’S THE WEATHER?
Jarrod Prugar
Believe it or not, it’s supposed to be cold on a State College Saturday in late December. At kickoff, the temperature is slated to be 25 degrees per The Weather Channel. It’s supposed to stay that way until 3, when it dips to 24. There doesn’t look to be a chance of snow until 4, when there’s a 20% chance. God willing, the game will be over by 4.
For Penn State fans who won’t be in Beaver Stadium today, here’s more information on how to watch and listen to the game.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Time: Noon
Channel: TNT
Announcers: Mark Jones (PXP), Roddy Jones (color), Qunt Kessenich (sideline)
Streaming: HBOMax
Radio: Penn State Football Radio Affiliates
Radio announcers: Steve Jones (PXP), Jack Ham (color), Brian Tripp (sideline)
Sirius/XM: 80/82/84
