It’s Thursday, Jan. 9, and with the College Football Playoff back in action, the sports world is buzzing. As always, I’m bringing you one play that I feel confident about, and it’s a FREE Penn State-Notre Dame CFB pick! You can find get +EV college football bets here at OddsShopper!
Free CFB Playoff Pick Today: Penn State-Notre Dame
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Now let’s dive into today’s play. This one wasn’t an easy call, but after breaking down the matchup, I’m going with Penn State at even money in a toss-up game against Notre Dame tonight. You can find some alternate lines out there — like +1.5 or +2.5 — but I’m comfortable with even money for Penn State.
Free CFB Expert Pick: Penn State Moneyline
Penn State has been very solid this year, with its only losses coming to Ohio State and Oregon — both of whom are top-tier teams. It has really stepped up in big games and looked fantastic in its most recent contests, including a dominant win over SMU and a strong performance against Boise State. Penn State’s defense is one of the best in the country; no one can really run on it, and that’s going to be crucial tonight.
One player to watch on defense is Abdul Carter, who is listed as a game-time decision, but I’m expecting him to play. If he does, it gives an already stout defense a major boost.
On offense, Drew Allar has shown he can make the plays when needed, and he’ll be leaning on a strong rushing attack. Tyler Warren is a dynamic player who can create mismatches, and Penn State will find ways to get him in space to exploit Notre Dame’s defense. While Notre Dame’s defense is strong, Penn State has the pieces to succeed, especially when it comes to winning the battle in the trenches.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, had a rough start to the season with a loss to Northern Illinois, but it has bounced back and looked much better since. It took care of business against Indiana and even beat Georgia. While it deserves credit for those wins, some of the circumstances were in its favor, like a kickoff return for a touchdown and taking advantage of short fields.
Riley Leonard has been solid at quarterback, and Notre Dame’s defense — especially its secondary — is one of the best in the country. I have some doubts about whether Allar can consistently slice through that secondary if Penn State falls behind in this game.
That said, if this game stays close, both teams will likely lean heavily on its running games. I trust Penn State’s rushing attack more in this scenario. It has got two explosive backs, and while Notre Dame’s defense is no slouch, Penn State’s small edges will be the difference-makers.
Plus, Penn State’s defense should win the battle against Notre Dame’s rushing attack. If it can stifle Notre Dame’s ground game and make timely plays on offense, Penn State will come out on top.
Best Penn State-Notre Dame Bet: Penn State Moneyline (+100, FanDuel)
