Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) vs. Boise State Broncos (12-1)
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos December 31 2024 – Penn State Nittany Lions and Boise State Broncos meet in a quarter-final clash in the places of the Fiesta Bowl. The year has been good for both Penn State as they have a well-balanced team and for Boise State as they have had a strong run with their running game. With one of the four spots in the semifinals at stake, this match is set to be explosive at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos December 31 2024 Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | State Farm Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Penn State | -500 | -11.5 (-110) | 53.5 Over -110 |
| Boise State | +360 | +11.5 (-110) | 53.5 Under -110 |
Penn State enters as heavy favorites, reflecting their well-rounded team and dominance as a favorite this season. Boise State’s +360 moneyline is enticing for underdog bettors, though their 0-6 record as underdogs raises concerns. The total at 53.5 aligns with Penn State’s recent high-scoring games and Boise State’s offensive explosiveness.
Drew Allar QB vs. Maddux Madsen QB
Drew Allar has had a good season for Penn State passing the ball, with 3,021 yards and 21 touchdowns to his name. The statistics of 68.5% completions and 8.7 yards per attempt show how efficient he is. At the same time, he did throw seven interceptions and took 14 sacks so he does have a few vulnerabilities. Allar’s partnership with Harrison Wallace III is something that could be key in Chicago’s offense against Boise State’s defense overall.
Maddux Madsen has had a nice year for Boise State, passing for 2,714 yards and 22 touchdowns with three interceptions. 62% in terms of completion rate lauds his overall consistency, however, his passer rating is lower than that of Allar’s which suggests he does not bring that much explosiveness. In the offense, Madsen is expected to take the support of Ashton Jeanty, his star running back in order to provide the toughness and pressure needed to the Penn state’s defense.
Penn State’s Dominance and Depth
The Nittany Lions were able to beat both Maryland and SMU and finish the season on a high note. The rushing attack has been dominant as Nicholas Singleton rushed for 928 yards with eight touchdowns to his name. Wide receiver Harrison Wallace III had a good season as well, being able to secure eight hundred and eighteen total yards with four of them being touchdowns. The diversity that Penn State has on their team is definitely something to look out for.
Boise State’s Dependence on Jeanty
Boise State comes into the Fiesta Bowl with ten consecutive victories, benefiting greatly from Ashton Jeanty who has amassed 2,496 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Rounding out the offensive pair is wide receiver Cameron Camper with 837 yards. Although their defense has managed to hold their own against weaker teams, sure enough, quite a high standard will have to be met for Boise State to match the sheer offense of Penn State.
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends
Penn State has covered the spread in four of their last six games and are a perfect 12-0 SU as favorites this season. Their games often hit the over, with four of their last five exceeding the total. Additionally, Penn State’s strong December performances (9-2 ATS) make them a reliable bet in postseason play.
Boise State Broncos Betting Trends
Boise State is 10-0 SU in their last 10 games but has struggled ATS in December, covering only once in their last seven December matchups. They’ve also failed to win as underdogs in their last six attempts, which could deter bettors despite their impressive record.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos Betting Previews
Allar and Singleton are central players of Penn State’s offense, and for this reason, they stand a great chance of winning amidst other competitors. Jeanty has been doing well offensively for Boise State, but over-reliance on one player can get the team into trouble because such teams are always easy to defend against, and that is exactly what Penn State’s defense has managed to do. Penn State can perform under pressure and has depth too on both sides of the ball so they seem like a safe choice.
In prop, bets, Jeanty’s chances of scoring a touchdown should be placed in light of the fact that has had a good season. The total of 53.5 should go over because both teams are quite capable of scoring points. Also, it seems that Penn State will be able to cover the -11.5 spread due to their excellent form.
Score Prediction: Penn State Nittany Lions 38, Boise State Broncos 24.
