No. 12 SMU at No. 5 Penn State , Saturday, midday ET
HT Picture
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: Penn State by 8 1/2.
Collection document: Penn State leads 1-0-1. What’s at stake?
A visit to Arizona to face No. 8 Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl, one of many 4 CFP quarterfinals, on New Yr’s Eve. The sport can be an opportunity for SMU to show it belongs with the nation’s finest in this system’s first season within the ACC after transferring over from the American Athletic Convention. The expanded CFP supplies Penn State and coach James Franklin with a possibility to shed its label as a program that is ceaselessly good however not often nice. Key matchup
Penn State’s dynamic duo of junior working backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton goes in opposition to SMU’s stout dashing protection. The Mustangs lead the ACC and are fourth nationally giving up 93.4 yards dashing per recreation — which for now could be the bottom in program historical past. They permit solely 2.74 yards per carry. Singleton is ninth within the Large Ten with 839 yards dashing, simply forward of Allen’s 822. Each had 100-yard video games in opposition to No. 1 Oregon within the Large Ten championship recreation. The one particular person 100-yard dashing recreation in opposition to the Mustangs was Louisville’s Isaac Brown, who went for 117 yards on Oct. 5. Gamers to observe
SMU: RB Brashard Smith was a receiver the previous three seasons at Miami, however switched to working again after transferring to SMU. The 5-foot-10, 196-pound senior has run for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns. He additionally has 35 catches, tied for second-most on the workforce, for 303 yards and 4 extra scores.
Penn State: TE Tyler Warren. The John Mackey Award winner because the nation’s finest tight finish is greater than only a cross catcher for the Nittany Lions, he is a 6-foot-6 Swiss military knife who lets offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki get as inventive as he desires. Along with hauling in 88 receptions for 1,062 yards — a Large Ten document for a decent finish — and 6 touchdowns, Warren additionally proved efficient lining up behind middle within the Wildcat formation, working for 191 yards and 4 scores. If issues are tight late, anticipate the ball to search out its manner into No. 44’s arms. Information & figures
The Mustangs have gained 10 straight street video games, the second-longest lively streak within the FBS behind Texas. … SMU is the primary workforce to ever go undefeated in convention play after making the transfer from a Group of 5 convention to a Energy 4/5 convention. … If it is shut late, the Mustangs like their probabilities. Kicker Collin Rogers ranked third within the FBS with 23 discipline objectives, together with seven from 50 yards or extra, one shy of the NCAA document in a single season. … It will be chilly at Beaver Stadium. Temperatures are anticipated to be within the mid-20s, although there’s solely a small likelihood of snow. … Maybe no workforce is happier than Penn State having an expanded 12-team playoff. The Nittany Lions completed within the high 12 within the remaining CFP ballot six earlier occasions solely to overlook the match as a result of the sector was restricted to 4 groups. … Penn State has gained at the very least 10 video games for a 3rd straight season, the primary time this system has carried out that since 1980-82. …The Nittany Lions are 4-5 in bowl video games underneath James Franklin. … Penn State DE Abdul Carter, the Large Ten Defensive Participant of the Yr, tied for the convention lead with 10 sacks and his 19 1/2 tackles for loss paced the Large Ten and ranked third within the FBS.
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