No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in a Big Ten Championship matchup few noticed coming. After all, the Big Ten has lengthy been a convention dominated by Ohio State and Michigan, and when the league dropped divisions, most had been sure these could be the 2 packages reaching this sport.
Instead, it is an Oregon program navigating the Big Ten for the primary time — a program that occurs to be the one undefeated FBS workforce remaining. Standing between the Ducks and a Big Ten title is a Penn State workforce that was largely written off as a Big Ten contender after shedding to Ohio State earlier within the season.
The Nittany Lions have lengthy been labeled a program unable to recover from the hump. Well, Michigan removed that hump for them final week.
While each groups are firmly entrenched within the CFP’s 12-team area, the No. 1 seed and a bye is reachable for each. If Oregon wins, it’s going to stay at No. 1, and Penn State may leap to No. 1 with a win over the Ducks even when No. 2 Texas beats Georgia.
In different phrases, there’s a complete hell of loads to play for in Indianapolis Saturday night time.
Oregon vs. Penn State: Need to know
Oregon may do one thing solely Michigan State has performed earlier than: With a win on this sport, Oregon would boast victories over Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State in the identical season. All of their first yr within the Big Ten! Only one different program has performed that, and it is Michigan State. The humorous half? Michigan State has performed it 5 occasions! Most lately in 2015, however the Spartans did it in 1951, 1965, 1966 and 1999 as effectively. Remember, Penn State did not be part of the league till 1993, so these first 3 times included nonconference video games.
Oregon is one in every of 5 groups to succeed in the convention championship in its first season in a brand new league this yr: It appears there’s worth in unfamiliarity? The new blood throughout the nation has discovered loads of success of their new houses this season. Arizona State (Big 12), Army (American), SMU (ACC) and Texas (SEC) are all taking part in in convention title video games this week after becoming a member of their new leagues this season.
Penn State is 4-12 all-time in opposition to the No. 1 workforce within the AP Top 25: I do know 4-12 does not seem to be an excellent file, however be mindful No. 1 groups do not lose fairly often. That’s why they’re No. 1. Winning 25% of these 16 video games is healthier than most packages. While the Nittany Lions have loved success, there hasn’t been a lot currently. The final win over a No. 1 workforce got here in 1990 in opposition to Notre Dame. They have not performed it since becoming a member of the Big Ten.
How to look at Oregon vs. Penn State reside
Date: Saturday, December 7 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Oregon vs. Penn State prediction, picks
I’ve seen loads of shock from followers and media alike that Oregon is just a 3.5-point favourite within the sport, however the unfold is smart to me. There’s far an excessive amount of consideration paid to Penn State’s incapability to beat Ohio State and it overshadows the very fact the Nittany Lions are a genuinely good workforce! But if I’m taking a aspect on this sport, I’m going with the Ducks. While each groups are evenly-matched throughout the board, there’s one spot that Oregon has an enormous benefit: at receiver. Penn State’s whole passing assault is constructed by means of Tyler Warren, and he is superior, however what if Oregon takes him away? What’s the counter? Oregon has loads of choices, and it needs to be sufficient to make the distinction. Pick: Oregon -3.5
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