Penn State vs Ole Miss betting line: Nittany Lions favored by more than a field goal in Peach Bowl matchup

Penn State and Ole Miss are set to meet at the 2023 Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 in Atlanta. According to a prominent betting service, the No. 10 Nittany Lions begin game prep considered a favorite by more than a field goal.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Penn State as a four-point favorite over the No. 11 Rebels — a fellow 10-2 squad — as of Monday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. That same source lists the over/under at 49.5 total points.

"They say (different) styles make great fights, and we've got a great fight with one of the top offenses in the country and the top total defense in the country," Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan said. "A top ten quarterback and a top ten running back against the No. 1 total defense in the country. We've got SEC versus Big Ten."

In case it wasn't obvious, Penn State is considered the defensive heavyweight, featuring first-team All-Big Ten selects in Abdul Carter, Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson. Led by head coach Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss owns an offensive attack that ranks top-20 nationally in scoring and yards, with quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Quinshon Judkins starring individually.

"Me and Lane have known each other for a long time," Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin said on Sunday. "Obviously I've followed his career from afar. We have a lot of friends in common as well. It's been great to watch those guys play when I've had the opportunity this year. He's always played an exciting brand of football."

This will mark the first meeting between Penn State and Ole Miss, with each aiming to complete an 11-win campaign inside the top 10 of national rankings. It's a fifth New Year's Six Bowl appearance in eight years for the Nittany Lions.

"We have aspirations and expectations to do better. But there's also only a very, very small handful of teams in the country that have done what we've done," Franklin said. "And I think there's also a cool reality that, with a win in the Peach Bowl, we have a chance to be the only program in college football to win every New Year's Six bowl game. So that's something that's exciting."

Penn State has been favored in each game this season except for losses to Michigan and Ohio State, who were each four-point favorites for those matchups. PSU is 9-3 against the spread overall, covering in the last two since an offensive coordinator change. The Nittany Lions beat Michigan State, 42-0, on Black Friday as a 21.5-point favorite.

Ole Miss approaches a game as the underdog for the fourth time in 2023. The Rebels previously held that status versus Georgia (+11; 52-17 loss), LSU (+2.5; 55-49 win) and Alabama (+6.5; 24-10 loss). Ole Miss is 7-4-1 against the spread, coming off of consecutive covers to close out the regular season, including a 17-7 Thanksgiving victory over Mississippi State (-9).

Penn State is 4-4 in bowl games under Franklin, beating Utah by 14 points in the Rose Bowl last January. Kiffin has led Ole Miss to a 1-2 bowl record, most recently suffering a 17-point loss to Texas Tech in the 2022 Texas Bowl.

No player opt-outs have been announced on either side of the Peach Bowl to this point. The contest kicks off at noon on Dec. 30 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.