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ESPN’s FPI predicts the winner of Notre Dame-Penn State CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl
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ESPN’s Football Power Index always predicts the outcome of the upcoming college football matchups. With 8 of the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff being eliminated already, the model has been updated for the semifinal games.
In the Orange Bowl, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions. The model predicts a tight game in Miami, giving the Irish a 58.8% chance to win and the Nittany Lions a 41.2% chance. This will be the 20th all-time meeting between the teams, with both having 9 wins and once ending in a tie.
To get to this point, the Irish defeated Indiana in the opening round and Georgia in the quarterfinal. The Irish defense has been stout in the Playoff, allowing just 27 points in 2 games.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions knocked off SMU in the opening round and Boise State in the quarterfinal. Similar to Notre Dame, the Penn State defense has been elite, allowing just 24 points in 2 games.
This will be Penn State’s 6th time appearing in the Orange Bowl. The team is 4-1 in previous Orange Bowls, with their last appearance coming in 2006. The Irish are also set to play in their 6th Orange Bowl and are 2-3 all-time in the bowl.
The winner of this game will punch their ticket to the national championship against the winner of Ohio State-Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Neither Notre Dame nor Penn State have appeared in the championship game during the College Football Playoff era.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
