The Pinstripe Bowl presents one of the most interesting matchups in the college football postseason, as Penn State and Clemson clash at Yankee Stadium under significantly different — and precarious — conditions. 

Both teams began the season with hopes of making the playoffs. However, they now find themselves in New York, struggling with injuries, facing numerous opt-outs, and confronting roster instability that cannot be overlooked when making Penn St. vs. Clemson picks.

Penn St. vs. Clemson Predictions for the Pinstripe Bowl, Saturday, 12/27

Penn State is adjusting to a new interim head coach after an in-season dismissal, while Clemson is relying on its established culture and continuity, despite having lost a substantial portion of its roster to the NFL Draft and injuries. Consequently, this game appears to be less of a typical bowl shootout and more of a tough, error-prone contest — which makes the total score much more intriguing than the point spread.

The Under is clearly the most compelling betting angle for the Pinstripe Bowl, according to our Penn St. vs. Clemson predictions. This is primarily due to the fact that both offenses were already performing below average even before considering the unpredictability that bowl season introduces.

 

 

 

Penn St. vs. Clemson Best Bet: Under 48.5 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Entering this matchup, Penn State will be without their starting quarterback, Drew Allar, who sustained a season-ending injury back in October. This situation places redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer in a challenging position — facing a tough opponent.

Throughout the regular season, Penn State’s offense had difficulty creating explosive plays, relying significantly on field position and defensive support. With Allar absent, their potential diminishes even more.

Adding to the complexity are the opt-outs and coaching changes. Star running back Nicholas Singleton will not be participating. Defensive tackle Zane Durant has also opted out. Numerous other starters are either unavailable or likely to have limited playing time, a situation that interim head coach Terry Smith has acknowledged. 

Furthermore, Penn State’s offensive coaching staff has been significantly altered, with key assistants already taking positions elsewhere. Such instability typically manifests in timing-related aspects: protection calls, red-zone performance, and efficiency on third downs.

All indicators suggest that Penn State will adopt a conservative game plan. Anticipate a heavy reliance on fundamental running strategies, minimal pre-snap motion, and a strong focus on avoiding situations that would force Grunkemeyer into clear passing scenarios. 

This approach will consume the clock, reduce the number of possessions, and make it challenging to elevate the game score into the high 40s unless defensive touchdowns or favorable field positions come into play.

Clemson's offense is not in a significantly better position. Cade Klubnik is anticipated to take the field, providing the Tigers with a distinct advantage at quarterback. However, even with Klubnik leading, Clemson's offense has shown inconsistency throughout the season. 

The Tigers have ranked closer to average than elite in various efficiency metrics and have frequently faced challenges in completing drives. Additionally, they'll be without their top receiver, Antonio Williams, along with several key players on the offensive line.

The venue also plays a significant role. Yankee Stadium in late December is not conducive to offensive success. The cold weather, slippery ground, and swirling winds all favor defensive strategies and conservative play-calling. This narrative has been observed in Northeast bowl games before, and it consistently leans towards benefiting the Under.

When you factor in two offenses that are already below average, backup quarterback performances, significant player opt-outs, coaching changes, and a cold-weather outdoor setting, the likelihood of this game surpassing 49 points is exceedingly slim. Our Penn St. vs. Clemson predictions believe that a final score in the low 20s for either team seems far more plausible than a high-scoring shootout.

 

 

 

How To Watch Penn St. vs. Clemson - Pinstripe Bowl

  • Date: Saturday, December 27
  • Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
  • TV: ABC

Penn St. vs. Clemson Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

We’ve just relayed our Penn St. vs. Clemson predictions. Now, let’s take a look at the latest Penn St. vs. Clemson odds for this matchup from FanDuel Sportsbook:

  • Money Line (ML): Nittany Lions +130 | Tigers -154
  • Spread: Nittany Lions +3.5 (-122) | Tigers -3.5 (+100)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

 

 

 

Penn St. vs. Clemson Injury Report & Latest News

Penn State Injury Report

  • O. Ioane (OG) – Out, Personal
  • J. Smolik (QB) – Questionable, Arm
  • J. Brown (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • M. Granville (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • M. Robinson (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • K. Artis (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. O’Hara (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • L. Horan (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Nastasi (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • P. Gonzalez (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • K. Saunders (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Mayer (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Mears (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Pryts (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Kritza (QB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • M. Williams (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • C. Brewer (OG) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Belgrave-Shorter (S) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Coleman (RB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • L. Payne Jr. (S) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Jennings (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Speca (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • M. Outten (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • T. Rojas (LB) – Doubtful, Undisclosed
  • D. Allar (QB) – Out, Undisclosed

Clemson Injury Report

  • A. Terrell (CB) – Out, Quadricep
  • T. Moore (WR) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Williams (WR) – Out, Undisclosed
  • C. Klubnik (QB) – Probable, Undisclosed
  • T. Parker (DL) – Doubtful, Undisclosed
  • A. Adams (DL) – Out, Ankle
  • O. Patt-Henry (TE) – Out, Undisclosed
  • J. Lawson (DL) – Out, Ankle
  • E. Thurmon (OG) – Out, Undisclosed
  • A. Mason (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Haynes (RB) – Questionable, Knee
  • M. Williams Lee (DL) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • L. Anderson (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Wilkes (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Wesco Jr. (WR) – Out, Head
  • E. Ware (OG) – Out, Shoulder
  • J. Green (RB) – Out, Foot

 

 

 

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