Penn State vs Notre Dame Same-Game Parlay for Orange Bowl

• Notre Dame (13-1) battles Penn State (12-2) in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday, January 9th at 7:30 PM EST
• It’s a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup. The winner advances to the national championship game
• We’ve got a juicy same-game parlay to kick off 2025 with a big payout on this marquee matchup

The College Football Playoff delivers a can’t-miss semifinal clash as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl. Both teams enter with strong defensive units that have stifled opponents all season long.

Penn State’s dynamic running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will look to exploit a Notre Dame rush defense that ranks 57th nationally in explosive runs allowed. However, the Fighting Irish counter with a turnover-generating machine, leading the nation with 31 takeaways.

Let’s break down our same-game parlay for this CFP semifinal showdown between Notre Dame and Penn State.

Notre Dame vs Penn State Same-Game Parlay

Our Bet365 same-game parlay clocks in at a juicy +525 payout. A $10 wager returns a tidy profit of $52.50 if all three legs hit. Let’s dive into each selection.

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Notre Dame vs Penn State Same-Game Parlay Pick #1: Penn State Moneyline (+105)

The Nittany Lions opened +105 underdogs at some books. However, sharp money has come in on Penn State, shifting the line to -106 at Pinnacle, one of the world’s sharpest books. Penn State boasts key advantages that put them in prime position to punch their ticket to the title game.

Star linebacker Abdul Carter’s potential return from injury would provide a huge boost to an already stout Penn State defense. The Nittany Lions rank 7th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.8 points per game.

Abdul Carter is legitimately untouchable sometimes…

His natural slipperiness & bend is outrageous for someone that’s 260 lbs.

I am very very high on him. pic.twitter.com/yX9pphgiKF

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 7, 2025

With an extra two days rest after the Sugar Bowl was postponed, James Franklin’s squad is poised to deploy a healthier Carter and suffocate a Notre Dame offense that has relied heavily on turnovers and a methodical run game. Penn State’s ability to limit explosive plays sets them up to control this semifinal.

Offensively, the Nittany Lions’ ground game has caught fire at the perfect time, averaging 233 yards per game against playoff-caliber competition. The offensive line, anchored by pro prospects like Nick Dawkins, should pave the way for running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen to exploit a Notre Dame defense ranked 57th in explosive run plays allowed.

Penn State’s two-headed MONSTER in the backfield, from the B1G 🏆 on

Kaytron Allen:
• ORE – 14 att, 124 yds, TD
• SMU – 11 att, 70 yds, 2 TD
• BSU – 17 att, 134 yds

Nick Singleton:
• ORE – 10 att, 105 yds
• SMU – 14 att, 90 yds, TD
• BSU – 12 att, 87 yds, TD

Dynamic duo. pic.twitter.com/A4tRem48bm

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) January 7, 2025

On offense, Drew Allar’s growth behind center has unlocked Penn State’s passing attack. Unlike Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard who struggles throwing downfield, Allar has shown accuracy on deep shots.

If the Nittany Lions can establish the run early and grab a lead, it puts the Irish in an uncomfortable spot playing from behind, a position they rarely faced this season. Expect Penn State’s superior offensive balance and game-wrecking defensive front to be the difference Thursday night.

Fighting Irish vs Nittany Lions SGP Pick #2: Under 45.5 Points

When two top-tier defenses collide, points come at a premium. Notre Dame and Penn State surrender a combined 29.4 points per game this season, with both units ratcheting it up a notch in the CFP. The under has already drawn 72% of bets and 67% of the money, signaling a low-scoring rock fight.

Notre Dame’s defensive strength lies in forcing turnovers, leading the nation with 31 takeaways. However, relying on turnovers is a volatile path to victory. If the Irish fail to generate extra possessions, they’ll need to lean on a passing attack led by the inconsistent Riley Leonard. That spells trouble against Penn State’s 2nd-ranked red zone defense.

A beaming Riley Leonard at Orange Bowl media day: “It all kind of feels like a dream right now.” pic.twitter.com/cIKQ55gw5A

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 7, 2025

On the other side, Penn State wants to control the clock with their potent rushing attack. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have run wild in the CFP, averaging 233 yards per game. But grinding out methodical drives against Notre Dame’s stingy front seven will eat up clock and limit overall possessions.

If Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love is limited by his lingering knee injury, the Irish become even more one-dimensional on offense. Expect both teams to trade body blows in the trenches, ultimately struggling to light up the scoreboard in this defensive slugfest.

ND vs PSU SGP Pick #3: Tyler Warren Anytime TD (+100)

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is a matchup nightmare for the Notre Dame defense. The 6’6″, 261-pound senior functions more as a receiver, accounting for a whopping 35% of the Nittany Lions’ receptions. Despite the Irish not allowing a tight end touchdown all season, they haven’t faced a talent with Warren’s unique skill set.

Safety Xavier Watts’ injury status is no longer a concern, meaning the Irish will likely deploy their usual man-coverage heavy scheme. However, Warren’s size and athleticism advantage over any Notre Dame defender will prove too much to contain for four quarters.

like I said… the fakest “injury” ever by Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts pic.twitter.com/w50uqG74ZP

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) January 2, 2025

Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will undoubtedly scheme up red zone opportunities for his All-American tight end.

Warren has scored nine total TDs this season and eclipsed Penn State’s single-season receptions record with 98 catches. His ability to high-point the football and win contested catches makes him a constant threat, especially near the goal line. No Irish linebacker or safety can match up with Warren one-on-one.

At -120 odds, betting on quarterback Drew Allar’s go-to target to find paydirt is a wise investment. Look for Warren to exploit single coverage and extend his touchdown streak under the bright lights of the Orange Bowl.