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College GameDay crew picks Notre Dame-Penn State Orange Bowl matchup
By Paul Harvey
Published:
College GameDay was live Thursday night ahead of the Orange Bowl matchup between Notre Dame and Penn State. This time, the Orange Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal with the winner on the doorstep of the national championship.
On one side stands Notre Dame and head coach Marcus Freeman. After wins over Indiana and Georgia, the Fighting Irish are within reach of the program’s first national title since 1988.
On the other side is James Franklin and Penn State. The Nittany Lions are rolling after blowing out SMU and Boise State but are facing a much tougher test this time around in the Notre Dame defense. Penn State is searching for its first national title since 1986.
Historically, the two sides have not faced off since the 2007 season but have 19 all-time matchups with the record split right down the middle. Penn State and Notre Dame are 9-9-1 all-time.
Ahead of Thursday’s kickoff, the GameDay crew was ready to make their usual pre-game picks for the matchup. Here is how each panelist picked the game, including Lee Corso’s headgear pick.
Desmond Howard: Penn State. “I switched my pick.”
Pat McAfee: Penn State. “I picked against Notre Dame (vs. Texas A&M) and Notre Dame wins that… Every Irish fan has told me to continue picking against Notre Dame. You got it!”
Nick Saban: Notre Dame. “I think Penn State has a better chance to have explosive plays, but I just like the way this Notre Dame team plays.”
Kirk Herbstreit: Notre Dame. “I think we all see the same kind of game… and because of the turnovers, I think the difference in this game will be a critical turnover late in this game. Notre Dame will get it.”
Lee Corso: Notre Dame
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
