#4 Penn St. vs. #9 Boise St. Predictions, Picks & Odds: Fiesta Bowl, 12/31
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are finally here, and the excitement is at an all-time high!
The very first of these exciting games is happening in the Fiesta Bowl, where the Penn State Nittany Lions will take on the Boise State Broncos. We’ve put together some #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State picks as this matchup is expected to be full of action as both teams aim to get closer to winning it all.
#4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State Predictions For The Fiesta Bowl
Penn State is riding a wave of confidence after a strong showing in the first round, while Boise State, having earned a well-deserved break, is ready to show they can compete with the best. With both teams having great records and talent at key positions, this game is sure to be a thrilling and closely fought contest.
Will Boise State keep their surprising journey going, or will Penn State's strength and experience be too much for them? Everyone will be watching as these two teams fight for a chance to move on to the College Football Playoff semifinals, so let’s break down our #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State predictions!
Penn State Nittany Lions: Winning The Big Games
Well, the Nittany Lions finally did it: they won a big game. The fact that their opponent was SMU in the first round of the CFP certainly helped, but they dominated, nonetheless.
The gripe with James Franklin has always seemed to be that he struggles to win the big games, but we’ll see if their most recent win can change that trend. Again, Penn State will benefit from facing a weaker team than most of the field, so they should be able to take care of business.
Boise State Broncos: Jeanty, Jeanty, Jeanty
Is there really anything else to say? Ashton Jeanty has been an absolute force in the backfield for the Broncos this entire campaign, and if they want any shot at winning this one, he’ll have to be heavily featured.
He’s shown his ability to perform against stiff competition before, as shown in their game against Oregon earlier this season, and should be prepared to take on a heavy workload in this one. But can Boise get the help needed from his surrounding teammates? That will be the question.
#4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State Odds, Spread, Total & Betting Lines
The below #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Penn State Nittany Lions (-485) vs. Boise State Broncos (+370)
- Spread: Penn State -11.5 (-108) vs. Boise State +11.5 (-112)
- Game Total: Over 54.5 (-112) vs. Under 54.5 (-102)
How To Watch The Fiesta Bowl On New Years Eve
Kickoff for the Fiesta Bowl between the Nittany Lions and Broncos is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN, where fans of both teams, and college football in general, will be able to tune into the game, whether any #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State predictions are made or not!
#4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State Spread Pick: Broncos +11.5 (-112 at DraftKings)
Penn State has been good on both offense and defense, but they will be facing a tough task in this one. The Broncos have the best player on the field in their running back, Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up has been amazing this season, racking up 2,497 rushing yards and scoring 29 touchdowns, making Boise's offense a real threat.
Although Penn State's defense has been stout (ranking 4th in total yards allowed and 7th in rushing yards allowed), they’ll be challenged by Jeanty’s skills. Boise State’s offensive line is great at creating space for runs, and Jeanty’s ability to break off big plays could really pressure the Nittany Lions' defense.
On the other hand, while Penn State also sports a good offense, averaging 439.8 yards and scoring 33.9 points per game, their passing game might struggle against Boise State’s defense.
Taking all of this into account, it looks like Boise State will keep the game close and might even make it a one-score game, even if Penn State comes out on top. So, Boise State at +11.5 (-112 at DraftKings) is a smart bet for our #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State picks, mainly because of one man: Jeanty.
#4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State Injury Report
There are indeed a few names to monitor when it comes to Fiesta Bowl injuries before making any #4 Penn State vs. #9 Boise State predictions. Here’s how both teams are shaping up:
Penn State Injury Report
- A. Donkoh (OL) - Out, Knee
- K. Wylie (LB) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- K. Winston (S) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- C. Wallace (RB) - Questionable, Lower Body
- K. Saunders (WR) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- A. Rappleyea (TE) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- T. Denmark (WR) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- K. Artis (DT) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- T. Mills (S) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- A. Ford (DT) - Out, Lower Body
- Z. Fisher (DE) - Out, Undisclosed
Boise State Injury Report
- T. Keinath (OL) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- A. Teubner (S) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- J. Steele (OL) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- C. Marshall (WR) - Questionable, Undisclosed
- S. Gaines (RB) - Questionable, Knee
- K. Anderson (TE) - Out, Knee
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