SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions 12/21/24 – Let’s take a look at the thrilling prospect of the SMU Mustangs (11-2) taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2) at Beaver Stadium as the college football playoffs underway. It will be interesting to see how dynamic the offense of SMU goes up against the balanced offense of Penn State. Both teams head into this match after losing their conference championship games and thus have something to prove.
SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions 12/21/24
| When: | Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustangs | +8.5 (-110) | 54.5 Over (-105) | +260 |  |
| Nittany Lions | -8.5 (-110) | 54.5 Under (-115) | -320 | |
| ||||
https://twitter.com/SMUFB/status/1870272978815984108
The Mustangs step in as the underdogs in the upcoming match against Penn State, as the spread of 8.5 points suggests. The Mustangs’ moneyline, however, is very appealing for those looking to place a bet on the upset. As per the total, more than a total of 54.5 goals seem to be tallied throughout the entire match as well. As it appears, the outcome of the game will be determined by how effective Penn State’s defense is in containing SMU’s strong offense.
Kevin Jennings QB vs. Drew Allar QB
For SMU, Mustangs’ stronghold, Kevin Jennings has been the key standout for their team. Jennings threw for 3050 yards, completed 66% of his passes, has 8.9 yards per attempt, tossed 22 touchdowns. However Jennings is known to make poor decisions while passing as he has only eight interceptions thus does not bode well against Penn State who have strong defense.
Similarly, Drew Allar, a quarterback for Penn State, has comparable statistics including 2894 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. With a seven interception, his hand strength is decent and his completion percentage stands at a whopping 91%. With time to get the ball out, Allar can position the ball on target even if the target distance is approximated between medium and long, which could help in breaching the aggressive defense put up by SMU.
SMU Mustangs: Road Warriors with Offensive Firepower
The Mustangs have been on a tear away from home having won their last 10 away matches. Although this was a close contest in the end with SMU only going down 31-34 against Clemson, they at least showed some fight. Leading their rushing game is running back Brashard Smith who has amassed 1,270 yards and has found the end zone 14 times, while they also have a receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. to stretch the field. The Mustangs seemed solid prep on defense but will have to be on their pomp against the aggressive firing power of pen states offense.
Penn State Nittany Lions: Balanced and Battle-Tested
After suffering a defeat by Oregon in the conference, Penn State got back into form with convincing wins against Maryland and Purdue. With a 6.4 yards per carry average, running back Nicholas Singleton brings great explosiveness in the run game, while tight end, Tyler Warren spearheads the receiving department with a total of over 1 thousand yards. Penn State’s have been great defensively too, as they completely shut Washington down in a key game, allowing just 6 points.
Trends
SMU Mustangs Betting Trends
SMU is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in seven of SMU’s last 10 games.
SMU is 10-0 SU in their last 10 road games.
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends
Penn State is 14-2 SU in their last 16 home games.
The total has gone OVER in four of their last five games.
Penn State is 8-1 SU in December games.
SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Prediction
This is a game that will showcase two powerful attacks but Penn State is the better option due to their varied squad and home advantage. SMU plays a powerful offensive game, which will challenge the defense of Penn State, but with Allar’s consistency and their running game, the Lions should be able to come out on top thanks to the time they will possess.
Betting on Penn State at -8.5 looks good, the total number of scored points at 54.5 is also quite easy to surpass due to both teams abilities. It is suggested that one should consider Brashard Smith’s rushing yards or Drew Allar’s passing touchdowns as prop bets.
Score Prediction: Penn State Nittany Lions 38, SMU Mustangs 27.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: December 21, 2024
Last updated: March 26, 2025