- The Penn State Nittany Lions open as 9.0-point betting favorites in their first-round matchup with the SMU Mustangs.
- Penn State has -135 odds to score over 30.5 points at home.
- SMU’s team total projection has -120 odds to go over 20.5 points.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. – Betting odds favor the Penn State Nittany Lions by 9.0 points for their first-round College Football Playoff matchup against the SMU Mustangs. Both teams finished as the runners-up in their respective conference championships, but Penn State gets home field advantage based on seeding.
Although college football props for players aren’t out quite yet with the game still 11 days away, bettors can wager on game props and team totals. This matchup has the highest point total of all four first-round games at 54.0 points.
SMU vs Penn State Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | +9.0 (-110) | +280 | O54.0 (-110) |
| Penn State | -9.0 (-110) | -360 | U54.0 (-110) |
Penn State totals have gone over in four straight games, including an 83-point combined scoring performance in the Big Ten Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks. SMU overs hit in four of their last six games and easily cleared 56.5 points in the ACC Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers.
This 54.0-point College Football Playoff total has -110 odds to go over in a battle between two potent offenses. Betting odds for team totals anticipate Penn State to clear their 30.5-point team total projection in their first College Football Playoff Game.
College Football Playoff Team Totals For Penn State, SMU
There are -135 odds for prop betting in Pennsylvania on the Nittany Lions’ 30.5-point projection to go over. They’ve scored 31+ points in four of their last five games and did so in 62% of games this season.
Penn State Team Total Points Prop
- Over 30.5 Points -135
- Under 30.5 Points +105
However, SMU has only allowed opponents to score 31+ points twice this season, one being Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. The Mustangs have allowed an average of just 22 points per game all season.
As for college football prop betting in Texas, SMU projects for 21.5 points in the first round of the College Football Playoff. They scored 22+ points in all but one game this season and rank eighth in the country with 36.4 points per game.
SMU Team Total Points Props
- Over 21.5 Points -120
- Under 21.5 Points -110
There’s slight juice on the Mustangs scoring 22+ points (-110) against Penn State, who have allowed inferior opponents like Minnesota and Bowling Green to clear that projection. Penn State allows only 16.4 points per game this season and kept home opponents under 22 points in six of seven games.
