On paper, there are a lot of reasons to view this game a lot closer than the spread. For one, SMU’s 5-2 record against winning teams (wins over Louisville, Duke, Pitt, TCU and Boston College) actually feels a little more impressive than Penn State’s 3-2 record in the same category (wins over Illinois, Bowling Green and Minnesota).

Penn State football flexed its muscles on both side of the ball to beat down SMU in the Nittany Lions' College Football Playoff opener.

Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned interceptions for touchdowns and Penn State toyed with mistake-prone SMU in a 38-10 victory in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.

SportsLine's model simulated Saturday's Penn State Nittany Lions vs. SMU Mustangs College Football Playoff first round matchup 10,000 times

The second game of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff is ready to kick off. The SMU Mustangs will be taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions for the right to take on the Boise State Broncos in the quarterfinals.

For the CFP first-round game between Penn State and SMU, ESPN’s Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich will be on the call.

Micah Roberts, on a 19-6 run on Penn State picks, has revealed his College Football Playoff picks for the SMU Mustangs vs. Penn State Nittany Lions in the first round on Saturday

Penn State’s defense heard a lot of noise after surrendering 37 points to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Nittany Lions put any worries about the unit to rest against SMU with a 38-10 win in Penn State’s College Football Playoff debut.