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NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Penn State Football, Drew Allar

Penn State Football Shunned by National Analysts Ahead of Notre Dame College Football Playoff Semifinal

Penn State Football has had a season to remember, and when the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams, many people thought the Nittany Lions would be in, but making the Semifinals would be a far reach.

In the first ten years of the four-team college football playoffs, Penn State never found itself in it, but in the first-ever 12-team postseason, it found a way to make the semifinals even though it was on the back of great seeding playing against SMU and Boise State.

 

The Nittany Lions are taking care of business, and this upcoming Thursday, they will face Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the national championship game.

Penn State has opened up as a 1.5-point underdog on most sportsbooks, and many college football analysts and reporters are not high on the Nittany Lion’s chance to pull off the upset.

CBS Sports published an article on Friday, and 11 writers predicted the two upcoming playoff games.

All 11 writers choose Ohio State to beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl and win the title. Ten writers have the Buckeyes taking down the Fighting Irish in Atlanta on January 20th for their second national championship in the playoff era.

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Penn State Football, Nick Singleton
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes for a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the second half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Only one CBS analyst, John Talty, picked Penn State to beat Notre Dame. Even though the Nittany Lions are less than a two-point underdog, hardly anyone who studies and knows the game thinks they can win.

Penn State might not have the best wins on its resume, but an argument must be made. They played the two best teams in the country, Oregon and Ohio State, very well, which are two better teams than Notre Dame has faced all season.

The Nittany Lions can use the experience they gained from the losses to Ohio State and Oregon and takedown Notre Dame. There is a chance Penn State is the third-best team in the country and just had to play two teams better than them in the regular season.

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