Penn State vs. Boise State: Fiesta Bowl odds, preview as Nittany Lions advance in College Football Playoff

For the first time in program history, Penn State is moving on in the College Football Playoff. The (6) Nittany Lions punched their ticket to a showdown against (3) Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on Dec. 31 with a dominant 38-10 win against (11) SMU on Saturday. 

Penn State controlled the game from the opening kickoff thanks to a staunch effort from its defense. The Nittany Lions stoned SMU on fourth-and-1 at Penn State’s 19-yard line to end SMU’s first offensive drive. Then, on SMU’s next possession, Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca returned an interception 23 yards for the first touchdown of the game. 

That was the first of two first-half interceptions for DeLuca, and the first of two first-half pick sixes for Penn State’s defense. The Nittany Lions scored 21 points over the first two quarters off of turnovers. Their fourth touchdown came after stuffing SMU on another fourth down conversion attempt. 

After taking a 28-0 lead into the half, Penn State’s win was elementary from there. The Nittany Lions now turn their attention to their attention to a strong Boise State team. 

This will be the first meeting between the two storied programs. Boise State and Penn State both rank top-10 in all-time win percentage, and the resurgent Broncos — who used to be a New Year’s Six mainstay — did enough as Mountain West champion to earn a first-round bye under first-year coach Spencer Danielson. 

What to know about Boise State 

Boise State is riding an 11-game winning streak into the College Football Playoff, including a 21-7 triumph over UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game. The Broncos’ only loss this season? By three points on the road against top-seeded Oregon. 

It’s no secret how Boise State got to 12-1 — they’ve…

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Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2024-12-21 20:34:00

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