The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Clemson Tigers in the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl in the Bronx on Saturday, Dec. 27. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on ABC.
Clemson is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -140. Penn State, meanwhile, enters as a +2.5 underdog and is +120 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 48.5 total points.
Here’s my Penn State vs. Clemson prediction and college football picks for Saturday, December 27.
Penn State vs Clemson Prediction
- Penn State vs. Clemson Pick: Clemson -3.5 or Better
My Clemson vs. Penn State best bet is on the Tigers to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Penn State vs Clemson Odds
| Penn State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | +120 |
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | -140 |
- Penn State vs Clemson point spread: Clemson -2.5 (-110), Penn State +2.5 (-110)
- Penn State vs Clemson over/under: 48.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Penn State vs Clemson moneyline: Penn State +120, Clemson -140
Penn State vs Clemson Pinstripe Bowl Preview
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview: Playing It Out
Terry Smith heads into his final game as Penn State's interim coach despite a loud chorus of players championing his retention.
Regardless, Matt Campbell takes the reins starting on December 28th.
The preseason No. 2 team in the AP poll enters this game without its starting quarterback and ace recruiting head coach, James Franklin. Star running back Nick Singleton and three other NFL-ready starters (Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley, and Olaivavega Ioane) have opted out. Watch for a half-dozen others to potentially follow.
However, Durant is a team captain, and Smith said a handful of players will be limited with NFL futures on the table. Notably, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Kaytron Allen could play minimal snaps or opt out altogether.
I wouldn't count on full games from any of Penn State's significant players.
Both coordinators, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, will coach through this game, despite Knowles joining Tennessee next season.
Freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer took over after Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury. Grunkemeyer isn't ready to play at a high level yet. He's thrown six touchdowns against four interceptions and taken 12 sacks on 61 pressures.
Without Allen and Singleton in the backfield, the offense falls much more heavily on Grunkemeyer's shoulders, and that could be a disaster (see: Ohio State game).
The running backs left on the roster are Cam Wallace and Corey Smith, who combine for as many carries as receiver Trebor Pena (11).
Three-game win streaks bookended Penn State's season.
After moving on from Franklin, Penn State played to a tight 25-24 loss at Iowa — by all accounts a quality loss — and then faced the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 teams, Ohio State and Indiana.
Grunkemeyer played decently against Indiana, but it was really the run game that nearly spurred the upset.
The Nittany Lions then closed with three solid wins over Michigan State (28-10), Nebraska (37-10), and Rutgers (40-36).
Campbell said his top priority was retaining current freshmen on the roster. However, pass rusher Chaz Coleman, a five-star prospect, decided to enter the transfer portal anyway.
This is a team that, despite playing its final game under Nittany Lion alum Smith, is limping to the finish line. It's a program in limbo that hasn't felt this way since 2013. Few teams have more reason to lack motivation than Penn State.
Clemson Tigers Betting Preview: Coached Through Chaos
Clemson decided to buy into the Who-Wants-To-Be-Here-Less Bowl. Per Dabo Swinney, 27 players will miss the Pinstripe Bowl due to opt-outs and widespread injuries.
The Tigers just finished their worst season since Year 2 under Dabo, so this outcome tracks.
If I tried to list every opt-out and explain the impact on the game, we'd be here all day. Chances are, if a player was an impactful starter, he's out Saturday. You can find the complete list in Stuckey's bowl tracker:
One notable player not opting out is starting quarterback Cade Klubnik. Klubnik will play his final game in a Clemson uniform before heading to the NFL Draft, but he'll do so with an almost entirely new supporting cast.
Two top receivers, a starting tight end, and three starting offensive linemen are out. However, NFL-prospect tackle Blake Miller announced he will play.
The backfield will feature senior Adam Randall, who spent his entire career at Clemson and is playing his final game, along with freshman Gideon Davidson. Top target T.J. Moore, who returns next season as a junior, will also play, giving Klubnik at least a functional core to work with.
Defensive end Will Heldt is another key piece who will suit up. Heldt announced he will return to Clemson for the 2026 season. Still, like Klubnik, he'll be surrounded by unfamiliar faces, as seven of Clemson's top 12 defenders will miss this game for various reasons.
With or without his starting 22, Dabo Swinney has historically gotten his roster ready for postseason play.
You have to go back to 2011 to find the last time Clemson failed to win a game after Rivalry Week — whether that was an ACC Championship, College Football Playoff game, or bowl.
Currently, the Tigers are winless after Rivalry Week, making the Pinstripe Bowl their lone opportunity to extend that nation-best streak.
Penn State vs Clemson Pick, Betting Analysis
Welcome to, objectively, the funniest bowl matchup of this postseason.
Clemson and Penn State — two storied programs — meeting in a low-tier bowl game at Yankee Stadium, with adverse weather likely in play.
Try telling someone back in July that this would be the outcome. At least one of these teams will get to claim a win over a "Preseason AP Top 5" opponent.
With barely anyone left from either roster compared to earlier this season, you have to dig below the surface to handicap this matchup properly.
Looking at depth charts, Clemson out-recruited Penn State in two of the past three years (though Penn State finished better in 2025). The Tigers also rate slightly higher in team composite rankings — seventh versus tenth — per 247Sports.
Neither program has been especially active in the transfer portal.
Clemson also holds a significant coaching edge in both continuity and experience.
Dabo Swinney is an elite motivator, as evidenced by his 14-year postseason winning streak. Both coordinators return next season, and this bowl game functions as an evaluation window for Clemson's younger depth pieces.
Penn State is also in an evaluation phase, with players effectively auditioning for roles next season. However, the incoming coaching staff will not be present for this game.
While bowl tape may be considered, it's unlikely that Coach Campbell and his staff make major personnel decisions based solely on the Pinstripe Bowl.
Additionally, Penn State's December signing class is thin — just six players total, with only two four-stars and no five-stars — which likely means more current players will be retained than if a stronger recruiting class were arriving.
Aside from a desire to send interim coach Terry Smith out with a win, there are few motivational indicators that favor Penn State.
With both rosters stripped down, this game ultimately tilts toward Clemson because of the coaching advantage
Pick: Clemson -3.5 or Better
Penn State vs Clemson Betting Trends
