The Penn State Nittany Lions wrap up their regular season at home on Saturday, facing the Maryland Terrapins with a potential home playoff game on the line.
Ranked fourth in the nation, the Nittany Lions are strong favorites against the Terrapins. However, they’ll need to handle business in this final matchup before shifting their focus to the postseason. But will it be as straightforward as it seems? Here’s a breakdown of the latest odds and our Maryland vs. Penn State prediction.
Maryland vs. Penn State Betting Preview
All Maryland vs. Penn State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Penn State -23.5 - Spread
Penn State -25 - Moneyline
Maryland +3200, Penn State -1400 - Over/Under
50.5 - Game time
Saturday, Nov. 30 | 3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Beaver Stadium | University Park, PA - Predicted Weather at Kick
28 degrees, mostly cloudy, 12 mph winds - How to Watch
BTN
Penn State is a huge favorite to defeat Maryland at home in Week 14. That shouldn’t be a shock given that the Nittany Lions have a 10-1 record, are ranked fourth by the College Football Playoff committee, and are playing at home. That is reflected in the moneyline, with Maryland +1300 to win in Beaver Stadium.
The last three meetings have been won by PSU, who have scored 30+ points while conceding 15 or less in those matchups. In fact, the Nittany Lions have a 43-3-1 record over the Terps in the all-time series, with Maryland last winning in 2020 when they went on the road to State College winning 35-19.
A repeat of those heroics by Mike Locksley’s team is hard to envision after conceding 29+ points in their last seven games. Furthermore, Maryland has conceded 27, 42, 48, and 39 points, respectively, in its last four road games.
Maryland’s Winning Probability
This game is going to be tough for the Terps. After losing four games in a row, they now run into a Nittany Lions team ranked fourth in the country. Unsurprisingly, the College Football Playoff Meter gives Maryland a lowly 4.7% chance of winning at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
- at Penn State: 4.7%
Penn State’s Winning Probability
Penn State is a heavy favorite to defeat Maryland at home in the season finale. The CFN FPM gives the Nittany Lions a 95.3% chance of victory and ending the season 11-1.
- vs. Maryland: 95.3%
Prediction for Maryland vs. Penn State
Penn State enters Saturday’s matchup as the clear favorite. The Terrapins, sitting at 4-7 and eliminated from bowl contention, head to College Park with questions at quarterback. MJ Morris is expected to start, while Billy Edwards Jr.’s availability remains uncertain due to a hand injury.
The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, boast one of the nation’s premier tight ends in Tyler Warren, who needs just one catch in Week 14 to set the Big Ten single-season receptions record for tight ends. It’s another accolade for a standout season from the Penn State star.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
James Franklin’s squad will look to cap off the regular season with a statement win on Senior Day, as Drew Allar leads an offense poised to control the game with a dominant ground attack. Maryland’s best chance lies in taking big shots downfield to stretch this into a competitive contest.
The Terrapins can only hope this is a potential trap game for the Nittany Lions.
However, Penn State appears laser-focused on securing a top seed in the College Football Playoff. While they survived a scare last week against Minnesota, squeaking by 26-25, that same Golden Gophers team crushed Maryland 48-23 back in October.
With this game being played in University Park, the Terrapins face a daunting challenge, and the scoreboard could slip out of reach for Locksley’s team early.
Prediction: Penn State 42, Maryland 10
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