Notre Dame vs Penn State Picks and Prediction – 1/10/2025

The College Football Playoff Semifinals will kick off on Thursday night, when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Make sure you are ready for all the football action with our college football picks. The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (13-1) managed to overcome an early season home loss versus Northern Illinois and rank second nationally in scoring defense (13.6 ppg). In the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame forced two turnovers during a 23-10 victory against Georgia.

Notre Dame took a 6-3 lead with less than a minute remaining on Mitch Jeter’s second field goal. A strip-sack on the next Georgia possession set up the Fighting Irish for a 13-yard Beaux Collins touchdown reception. Jayden Harrison started the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard rushed for a game-high 80 yards. 

The Penn State Nittany Lions shook off a Big Ten Conference Championship loss against Oregon and have won their first two College Football Playoff games by a total of 45 points. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (13-2) rank sixth nationally in total defense and are allowing 15.8 points per game. In the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Penn State raced out to a 14-point lead after one quarter and cruised to a 31-14 victory versus Boise State. 

Penn State QB Drew Allar completed 13 of 25 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren caught six passes for 63 yards and found the end zone twice. Kaytron Allen added a game-high 134 rushing yards for the Nittany Lions, who forced four turnovers on the night. 

The series between these two traditional powerhouse programs is even through 19 games. The defenses on both sides finished top ten nationally and points will be difficult to come by. The Nittany Lions have a few more options on offense and will advance to the National Championship game with a victory. Final Score Prediction, Penn State Nittany Lions win 23-19.