College football analyst Paul Finebaum recently shared his insights on the College Football Playoff during an appearance on the “Matt Barrie Show,” offering bold predictions for the upcoming semifinal matchups. With the Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish still in contention, Finebaum singled out two teams he believes have separated themselves from the pack.
Among the semifinal contenders, Finebaum praised Notre Dame for their impressive postseason run and predicted they would defeat Penn State in the Orange Bowl to advance to the national championship game.
“I would take Notre Dame and Ohio State,” Finebaum said. “I just can’t get excited about beating SMU at home and Boise State. To me, the idea of Penn State making it to the semifinals, really not having played anyone yet, is the main reason why I like Notre Dame.”
Notre Dame enters the Orange Bowl as a 2-point favorite over Penn State, according to ESPN BET.
Notre Dame’s Playoff Journey
The Fighting Irish have earned their spot in the semifinals with decisive victories over Indiana (27-17) and Georgia (23-10). Quarterback Riley Leonard has been the driving force behind Notre Dame’s offense. In his first season with the team after transferring from Duke, Leonard has tallied 18 passing touchdowns, 2,383 yards, and a 66.5% completion rate. He’s also been a dynamic threat on the ground, rushing for 831 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Notre Dame’s defense has been equally formidable, led by standout players Xavier Watts and Rylie Mills. Watts has been a playmaker in the secondary, recording six interceptions, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Mills leads the team in sacks with 7.5 and has contributed 37 tackles this season.
Looking Ahead to the Orange Bowl
Notre Dame will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl on January 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET. While Penn State has had an impressive season, Finebaum’s skepticism about their strength of schedule could fuel the Fighting Irish’s confidence heading into the game.
With a balanced offense, a dominant defense, and momentum on their side, Notre Dame aims to prove Finebaum’s prediction correct and take one step closer to a national championship.
