- What: CFP Quarterfinal Game
- When: December 31, 2024
- Who: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ)
The College Football Playoff semifinals kick off today with a matchup between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Boise State Broncos.
Penn State enters the game fresh off a 38-10 playoff victory over SMU, while Boise State enjoyed a bye week following their 21-7 victory over UNLV in the Mountain West Championship.
Penn State
A key factor for Penn State will be containing Boise State’s Heisman Trophy runner-up, Ashton Jeanty, a dynamic running back.
While Penn State has faced challenges against highly-ranked opponents, those encounters have primarily been against Power 5 schools. This unique matchup against a high-caliber Group of 5 team presents an interesting dynamic.
In the building. ????#WeAre x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/m3rEhOepa6
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 31, 2024
Oddsmakers heavily favor Penn State, with a significant 11.5-point spread and a moneyline of -500. This substantial spread reflects the perceived difference in talent and experience between the two programs.
Boise State
Boise State boasts an impressive 11-game winning streak, their only loss this season coming against the top-ranked Oregon Ducks. Penn State, with a 12-2 record, suffered losses to Oregon and Ohio State.
Get ready for the game today with the ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????
???? https://t.co/I7hNvJLaWM#BleedBlue | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/JJOstfqDgo
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) December 31, 2024
Given the uncertainty surrounding the spread, I’m focusing on the total.
Both Penn State and Boise State possess potent offenses. The Nittany Lions averaged 33.9 points per game, while Boise State averaged an impressive 37.7 points per game.
Nittany Lions-Broncos Best Bet
Despite the high total of 54.5 points, I believe there’s a strong possibility of exceeding that number. Both teams have the offensive firepower to put points on the board.
The best bet in this one is Over 54.5 points at -110 odds at BetMGM
Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
