Notre Dame-Penn State predictions: Traditional powerhouses vie for a spot in Atlanta

Either the Irish or the Nittany Lions will look to book a trip to the Jan. 20 CFP national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Lia Assimakopoulos, colleges insider

Notre Dame may be arguably the most consistent team in the College Football Playoff, but Penn State is getting hot at the right time. The Nittany Lions’ defense led by Abdul Carter has been lights-out through the first two rounds of the playoff and will pose a challenge for Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offense. Penn State will finally get over the hump and reach the national title game in a nail-biter. Penn State 31, Notre Dame 27

Tim Cowlishaw, columnist

I think they have the wrong favorite in the Orange Bowl. Yes, Notre Dame beat Georgia but that was a team without its quarterback and the Bulldogs only played like champions against Texas. Nittany Lions have more balanced offense, big playmakers on defense and should be playing for their first national championship since the 1986 team upset Jimmy Johnson’s Hurricanes. Penn State 28, Notre Dame 20

Shawn McFarland, Rangers insider

All this hullabaloo about conference supremacy, automatic bids and top-four seeds will end with an independent team in the championship game. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame and company will win an Orange Bowl game played between two teams that have had their validity questioned all season. Good luck against either Texas or Ohio State, though. Notre Dame 31, Penn State 24