ESPN Analytics predict Penn State win in Peach Bowl

Penn State football once again finds itself in a New Year’s Six Bowl game, as the Nittany Lions prepare to take on Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl to conclude the 2023 season. Outside of the College Football Playoff, this matchup is anticipated to be one of the most competitive games in all of bowl season. And according to advanced analytics at ESPN, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are expected to top the Rebels on December 30.

ESPN SP+ projections favor Penn State football against Ole Miss in Peach Bowl

Regarded as one of the more accurate predictive models in the sport, ESPN analyst Bill Connelly released his SP+ bowl picks this week. Connelly’s power ratings favor Penn State football in its matchup against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl later this month.

According to Connelly, the current score prediction has the Nittany Lions winning 30-24. ESPN currently has Penn State football as a 3.5-point favorite and gives the Nittany Lions a 72% chance of winning the Peach Bowl.

However, SP+ does not account for opt-outs or injuries, and just looks purely at the advanced analytics. We already know that star Penn State DE Chop Robinson will not participate in the Peach Bowl, choosing instead to prepare for the NFL Draft.

It remains to be seen what other potential opt-outs occur, specifically on the Penn State side. Key contributors like Olu Fashanu, Adisa Issac, and Kalen King are some names to keep an eye on during these next few weeks.

A new opponent for a new bowl game

On December 30, Penn State football will get the opportunity to do two things it has never done before.

The Nittany Lions have never played in the Peach Bowl, and have a chance to be the first team in college football history to win all six of the major bowl games. While it isn’t the same as winning the College Football Playoff, the accomplishment is still impressive and something to be proud of.

Penn State football has also never played the Ole Miss Rebels in the over 100 years of the program’s existence. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are the only two SEC members whom Penn State has yet to play. After this bowl game, it’ll just be the Bulldogs as the lone outlier for the Nittany Lions in the SEC, including newcomers Texas and Oklahoma.

As super conferences take over the world of college football, matchups like this may soon become a thing of the past. Enjoy the excitement of this year’s traditional bowl season, because next year, a new era of college football will change it forever.

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