Penn State (13-2) vs Notre Dame (13-1)
Game Info: Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 7:30 pm (Hard Rock Stadium)
Betting Odds: Penn State +2 / Notre Dame -2 --- Over/Under: 45.5
The Notre Dame vs Penn State Game Preview!
The Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, is a big deal in college football, famous for its exciting games and unforgettable moments. Remember the 1984 Orange Bowl? The Miami Hurricanes beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 31-30, putting Miami on the map as a football giant. Then, in 2000, the Florida State Seminoles took down the Virginia Tech Hokies 46-29, thanks to awesome plays by Chris Weinke and Peter Warrick. Fast forward to 2016, and the Michigan Wolverines just barely lost to the Florida State Seminoles 33-32, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. Looking ahead, mark your calendar for January 9th when Notre Dame and Penn State face off at Hard Rock Stadium. It's shaping up to be another thrilling showdown, with both teams having deep histories and passionate fans.
Matchup/League Facts
Penn State ranks 3rd among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (11.2).
Penn State ranks 3rd among FBS teams for H2 opponent points per game this season (5.7).
Notre Dame ranks 3rd among FBS teams for average point differential in third quarters this season (+7.1).
Notre Dame ranks 4th among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (11.6).
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Preview!
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are rocking a 13-1 record this season after beating Georgia 23-10 in their latest game. They were down 3-0 early on, but then they scored the next 20 points to take control and win. Even though they were outgained 300-244, they won the turnover battle 2-0 and went 4-14 on third downs. Riley Leonard threw for 90 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 80 yards on 14 carries. Jadarian Price ran for 37 yards on 10 carries, while Jordan Faison caught four passes for 46 yards in the victory.
Notre Dame took down Indiana in the first round of the CFP, winning 27-17. The Fighting Irish pretty much had the game in the bag, although they did let in 14 points towards the end. They've also beaten teams like Texas A&M, Purdue, Miami (OH), Louisville, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Navy, Florida State, Virginia, Army, and USC. They did have a close loss to NIU, though, with a score of 16-14. This season, Notre Dame's offense has been putting up 39.4 points per game, averaging 189.1 passing yards and 217.5 rushing yards. Their defense has been strong, only allowing 13.6 points per game. Riley Leonard has been on point, completing 66.5% of his passes for 2,383 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, plus he's rushed for 831 yards and 15 touchdowns this year. Jeremiyah Love is ND’s top rusher, but he got hurt in the game against Georgia.
The Penn State Nittany Lions Team Preview!
The Penn State Nittany Lions are rocking a 13-2 (8-1) record this year after taking down Boise State 31-14 in their latest game. Penn State was up 17-7 at halftime, but Boise State closed the gap to 17-14 in the third quarter. However, Penn State scored the last 14 points to secure the victory. Even though they were outgained 412-387, they won the turnover battle 4-1 and converted 5 out of 13 third downs. Drew Allar threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns, while Kaytron Allen rushed for 134 yards on 17 carries to help seal the win.
Penn State took down SMU 38-10 in the first round of the CFP. The Nittany Lions totally owned that game and were never at risk of losing. They've also beaten teams like West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State, Illinois, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin, Washington, Purdue, Minnesota, and Maryland, but they did lose to Ohio State and Oregon. Penn State's offense has been on fire, scoring 35.1 points per game with 234.1 passing yards and 202.2 rushing yards on average. On the flip side, their defense has only given up 15.8 points per game this season. Drew Allar has been solid, completing 67.4% of his passes for 3,192 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Plus, Tyler Warren has snagged 98 passes for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns this year.
The Notre Dame vs Penn State Game Prediction!
The Pick: ND / PSU UNDER 46.5 -110
Notre Dame kept their winning streak alive with a big win over Georgia, and their defense has been incredible this year. Five of Notre Dame's last six games against top-15 AP-ranked teams at neutral venues have gone UNDER the total points line.The Fighting Irish might not have the best passing game, but their running game has been solid all season. Penn State also rocks a strong running game with Allen and Singleton, so expect lots of running plays in this matchup. Both teams have killer defenses, and since they're both focusing on the run, we're probably looking at a low-scoring game. Go for the under on this one.
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