College GameDay podcast predicts outcome of Penn State vs. SMU
The College GameDay Podcast was seemingly split on Penn State and SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
ESPN’s Ryan McGee decided to side with the Mustangs while Pete Thamel opted for the Nittany Lions at home. Each had their reasoning, but this could be one of the more intriguing matchups on Saturday.
“I think that I’ve spent all season trying to talk my way out of both teams,” McGee said. “And all they’ve done is figured out a way to keep surviving, right? SMU … I think the world was trying to figure out a way to, all right, this has been, in the end, been a great story, but … they won’t go away. And Penn State’s kind of the exact same way …
“I like James Franklin a lot and we don’t root for coaches. We don’t root for teams. I would really love to see James Franklin make a run just just kind of quiet all that (noise), because I like him. I think the sport’s more interesting when he’s relevant. But that being said, I just, I don’t know, I’m just, I have spent all season picking against the Ponies, and I’m not going to do that anymore.”
When it comes to Penn State and SMU, it’s about the Nittany Lions defending Mustangs’ QB Kevin Jennings. That’ll be the biggest key, according to Thamel.
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“I’m going to pick Penn State, I’ll spoil the lede,” Thamel said. “But Kevin Jennings scares me. I just think when you start stacking up elite defensive lines in this playoff, I don’t know if Penn State’s number one, but I know they’re one of the best three, and I don’t think SMU has seen a defensive line that’s as menacing and as disruptive as Penn State’s defensive line. I think that’s the difference in this game. Abdul Carter is a game wrecker around the red on the edge. Dani Dennis-Sutton is another high end EDGE … But if Kevin Jennings can create offense with his legs, that’s going to keep SMU in this game and make it interesting.”
Penn State and SMU kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET in State College in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Currently, Penn State is an 8.5 point favorite over SMU and the total is set at 53.5 points. But perhaps the Mustangs can pull off the upset as McGee suggested.