Penn State College Football Playoff Odds: What are PSU's Playoff Chances?

Latest Penn State CFP Odds

The table below provides a quick overview of PSU's playoff odds and other related futures markets for the 2024 season. The odds below have been pulled from several operators, such as bet365 PA Sportsbook, and the percentage next to each set of odds represents the implied probability for each market.

When it comes to futures bets like the ones listed above, I always suggest checking multiple Pennsylvania sports betting apps before placing any wagers because odds in these markets tend to vary much more than other bet types. 

Is Penn State in the Playoffs?

Yes, Penn State is in the College Football Playoffs. The committee placed the Nittany Lions as the sixth-seed behind Texas at No. 5. Penn State had a chance to secure a first-round bye with a win over Oregon in the Big 10 Championship game, but will take a first-round home playoff game as a consolation prize.

What are Penn State's Odds vs SMU?

Opening odds for Penn State vs SMU has the Lions as 8.5-point favorites. Among the opening playoff games, this is the second-largest spread behind Texas (-11.0) vs Clemson. Here's a look at the total, spread, and moneyline odds for PSU vs SMU from Caesars Sportsbook Pennsylvania. You can also use the widget below to compare these odds to other operators.

Penn State Football Playoff Scenarios

With Penn State officially in the College Football Playoffs for the first time in the program's history, the goal is straightforward: don't lose. If Penn State wins against a high-powered SMU team next weekend, they will head to the Smurf Turf and take on the Boise State Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions will then need to win that game to advance to the semifinals to take on either Georgia, Notre Dame, or Indiana. 

Penn State Playoff Standings

Although Penn State will be the No. 6 seed in the College Football Playoff bracket, the Lions finished the year as the number 4 team in the final edition of the College Football Playoff rankings.

PSU Playoff Odds: Latest Updates and News

Here are the latest pieces of news and updates that could impact Penn State's playoff odds:

• 🗓️ December 8: The College Football Playoffs are set and the Nittany Lions will play against SMU at Beaver Stadium on December 21.
• 🗓️ December 7: Penn State can't keep up against Oregon, falling in the Big 10 Championship game 45-37.
• 🗓️ November 30: Thanks to Michigan's upset victory over Ohio State, Penn State is heading to the Big 10 Championship game after beating Maryland 44-7.
• 🗓️ November 23: Penn State keeps its playoff hopes alive with a 26-25 win over Minnesota.
• 🗓️ November 16: The Lions' offense continues to roll, putting up 49 points in their win over Purdue.
• 🗓️ November 12: Head coach James Franklin announces star RB Nick Singleton is dealing with a "short-term" injury. Singleton was banged up earlier in the year but it's unknown if the injuries are related.
• 🗓️ November 9: The Nittany Lions bounce back with a dominant 35-6 win over Washington.
• 🗓️ November 2: Penn State falls short to the Buckeyes, 13-20.
• 🗓️ October 26: Despite losing QB Drew Allar for the final two quarters of the game, Penn State beats Wisconsin on the road 28-13.
• 🗓️ October 12: After trailing 17-3 at halftime, Penn State rallies back and picks up a massive win against USC in overtime, 33-30.
• 🗓️ October 5: In their first matchup against one of the new Big 10 additions, the Lions beat UCLA 27-11.
• 🗓️ September 28: Penn State picks up their first win over a ranked opponent, 21-7 over Illinois.
• 🗓️ September 21: Coming off a bye week, the offense finally takes off, taking down Kent State 56-0.
• 🗓️ September 7: The Lions narrowly escape a disastrous upset, beating Bowling Green 34-27.
• 🗓️ August 31: Penn State takes care of business in Morgantown, winning 34-12.
• 🗓️ August 13: Penn State opens the season at No. 8 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Penn State Football Schedule 2024

Penn State Football Outlook and Playoff Prediction

Much of Penn State's 2024 season will come down to what happens on offense. Can Penn State move the ball, put up points, and help keep the defense off the field? If new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can recreate what he achieved at Kansas, the answer to the questions above will be a resounding yes. Whether that happens, however, remains to be seen. Penn State will now have its sixth different offensive coordinator in the James Franklin era, and there have been plenty of rumblings that Franklin meddles in the OC's plans too often. 

Beyond the change at offensive coordinator, Drew Allar will have to take the next step in his development without the luxury of a proven receiving room. Tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver transfer Julian Fleming are likely to lead the pass catchers. The one area where there aren't any questions is running back. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will lead the way in what is one of the most underrated RB duos in the entire country.

Defensively, there is another new face as Tom Allen will replace Manny Diaz who took the head coaching gig at Duke. Allen is no stranger to Penn State, as he joins the program after being the Indiana Hoosiers HC for seven years. Diaz led one of the most dominant defenses for the past two seasons, so as long as Allen isn't completely over his skis, Penn State should field one of the top defensive units once again.

One of the biggest issues we've seen from Penn State through the first several weeks is the team comes out too slow. The offense doesn't really get going until the second half and Tom Allen can't seem to make adjustments on the fly. The USC game exemplified this and while PSU has gotten away with it so far, they simply can't expect to get away with this all year. With just six games remaining, including a massive one against Ohio State, there isn't much time left to correct this problem.

Author

Cody Kutzer

@CKutzerFF

Cody Kutzer has been covering the sports betting and gambling space for several years and has been losing his parlay bets for even longer. He currently serves as an editor, writer, and fact-checker for PennStakes.com to ensure readers have the latest and most accurate information surrounding PA sports betting.