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  • SMU came up just short in the ACC title game, losing to Clemson by a score of 34-31.
  • Penn State lost 45-37 to Oregon in a competitive Big-10 title game, dropping to 11-2.
  • These two teams last met on September 23, 1978, in a game that Penn State won 26-21.

The Mustangs and the Nittany Lions enter this NCAAF game aiming to advance and take on Boise State. Our SMU vs Penn State prediction sees the Nittany Lions asserting their dominance over SMU.

SMU Narrowly Snuck into CFP

SMU lost to Clemson in the ACC title game, but still managed to make the CFP. The Mustangs are a bit vulnerable due to a lack of quality opponents to test them. They went 0-2 against ranked teams, losing to both Clemson and BYU. Without a win against a ranked team, SMU still has a lot to prove.

Their CFP appearance isn’t unearned, though. When the Mustangs won, they won big. Both their offense and defense have performed well this season. The offense, led by QB Kevin Jennings, has been particularly impressive. They currently rank 5th in the nation, scoring just under 40 points per game.

Penn State Still Seeking Signature Win

Like SMU, Penn State is 0-2 against currently ranked teams. They lost to Oregon and Ohio State, but kept both matchups as one-score games also just like SMU. Despite the similarities, the Nittany Lions have some key advantages. The ranked teams they player were significantly tougher, for one.

Another aspect going in Penn State’s favor is the relative strength of the Big-10 compared to the ACC. Their 8th-ranked defense is good enough to clash with SMU’s offense, making their own offense the key. look for the Nittany Lions to take some deep shots early and try to blow this one open.

SMU vs Penn State Prediction: Nittany Lions Win by 10+

With both of these teams having failed to beat a ranked opponent, their are some question marks on each side. That being said, the winner of this game will be in a prime position as they’ll face G5 Boise State in the quarterfinals. They’ll need to avoid getting ahead of themselves though. Ultimately, we see Penn State’s defense being the key factor. Look for them to stop SMU from keeping up in a shootout.

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