College Football Playoff Preview: Penn State vs SMU

By Max Dorsey

Playoff Season is here, with a triple header on today. The action starts at Noon EST with the SMU Mustangs traveling to Penn State for a head-to-head matchup in Happy Valley against the Nittany Lions. Penn State is looking to come out hot with their home fans behind them in the first ever playoff white-out game. The Mustangs are traveling up north with the sole intention of ending PSU’s season. This game should be absolutely electric and a competitive battle.

Where and When

SMU travels to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania on Saturday, December,  21st at 12:00pm EST. The Game will be streamed on Max and broadcast on TNT. For British viewers, they can find this game on Sky Sports at 5pm.

Story so far…

Embed from Getty Images

Penn State is the heavy favorite.

The second biggest point-spread of the first weekend of the CFP belongs to the Nittany Lions. They enter this game as nine-point favorites, their largest against a ranked team of the season. Penn State stadium seats 107,000 people, the second most in the entire country (NFL included) so expect their home fans to be a large factor in this game.

SMU are the underdogs

SMU- an ACC newcomer this season shocked a lot of the college football world winning 11 games and making the ACC championship. However, the Mustangs had a rather light schedule and aren’t nearly as battle-tested as Penn State is coming into this game. The last time we saw SMU they lost to Clemson in the ACC championship game, so expectations are low. They are heavy dogs looking to deliver the first upset of the CFP.

Weather

The high in State College today is 26 degrees with snow flurries expected to fall. The Mustangs are traveling from Texas so they are not used to playing in this kind of weather. This should be yet another advantage for the Nittany Lions

X-Factors

Embed from Getty Images

SMU

If SMU wants to win this game their X-Factor is going to have to be sophomore quarterback, Kevin Jennings. In terms of yards allowed, Penn State ranked 6th in the country this year defensively. The Nittany Lions are going to pin their ears back and try to pressure this young QB as much as possible. Jennings is going to have to be ultra-efficient, get the ball out quick, and find running lanes to make plays with his legs. If Jennings can do that, SMU has a chance to win.

PSU

The X-Factors for Penn State in this game are running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. These two make up the most dangerous running back duo in the country, and for Penn State to win they are going to have to manage the clock and keep the ball out of Kevin Jennings’s hands. SMU has a rather stout run defense ranking seventh in the country in terms of yards per game. If Allen and Singleton can break through the SMU run defense, make plays, and control possessions, Penn State should handle business

Prediction

Prediction

I think the white-out home-field advantage, the weather, and Penn State being more battle-tested up to this point should lead to a Penn State win. To me, SMU 100% earned their spot in the college football playoff this year and should be competitive throughout the first three quarters of this game, but in the end I see Penn State relying on their RB duo down the stretch to eventually pull away from the Mustangs.

Score: 27-14 Penn State

MAX DORSEY

CFB, NFL Draft Analyst

A Floridian, Max is a Broadcast Digital Journalism student at Syracuse University – where he has previously been a recruiting and scouting intern for The Orange. Follow him on Twitter @maxdorsey44

5/5