SMU was picked to finish seventh in its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a projection that would have meant an invite to a pedestrian bowl game.Preseason projections are meaningless as the Mustangs wrap preparations for the first 12-team College Football Playoff.SMU shattered expectations and the 11th-seeded Mustangs (11-2) are trying to continue that trend with a memorable upset of sixth-seeded Penn State on Saturday at chilly University Park, Pa.The conditions, with forecasts of temperatures in the low-20s, certainly favor the Nittany Lions (11-2) who called for fans to participate via clothing choice in a “whiteout” in Happy Valley.”Here’s the deal, they’re playing in the same weather we are,” Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee said Tuesday. “They got to play in it just like we do. I don’t think they’ve played a game on December 21 at home before, either. I don’t think the weather’s a big deal. Both teams are playing the same conditions, whether there’s snow or not snow, whether it’s really cold or just kind of cold.”The winner of Saturday’s game will meet third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.While the Nittany Lions were viewed as a playoff team from the outset of the season, the Mustangs took the hard route and edged out traditional power Alabama for the final spot.SMU went undefeated in ACC play in its first season in the league. Its two losses are by a combined six points — three to BYU and three to Clemson in the ACC title game.The Mustangs last enjoyed a 12-win season in 1935 and will be counting on the duo of quarterback Kevin Jennings and running back Brashard Smith to help them achieve it.Jennings has passed for 3,050 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Smith has rushed for 1,270 yards and 14 scores. He also has 1,814 all-purpose yards, just 29 shy of the school record set by Arthur Whittington in 1976.SMU averages 38.5 points per game while Penn State isn’t far off that mark with a 33.6 scoring average.Nittany Lions center Nick Dawkins sees the game developing into a full-scale brawl.”They’re a good team — prepared to go the distance with these guys,” Dawkins said. “They’re definitely going to bring it. College football, it’s do or die, win or go home. It’s going to be very important to be ready to play four quarters.”