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The CFP will start with a bang this Saturday with its four first-round games. Among them, Penn State will make its playoff debut looking to make SMU pay for the loss it suffered two weeks ago against Oregon in the Big Ten championship game.
The Nittany Lions (11-2, 8-1) made it to the NCAA football playoffs for the first time in their history and did so as the sixth seed. This gave them the right to be at home in the first round against the Mustangs (11-2, 8-0), the 11th seeded, who now face a complicated game in the Pennsylvania cold.
The winner of the game will earn their ticket to the quarterfinals, where they will face Boise State, seeded third, in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
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What time is the SMU vs Penn State game?
The game will kick off at noon ET (11:00 a.m. CT/9:00 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 107,000 fans.
After snow all week, forecasts call for temperatures to reach the mid-30s by game time. If the projections are correct, the weather could be a factor during the game.
Where to watch the SMU vs Penn State game?
The TV broadcast will be on TNT, while MAX and Sling TV will stream the game.
The odds favor the Nittany Lions by 8.5 points, with an over/under of 54.5 points. The money line has Penn State at -350, while SMU is +260.