Penn State vs WVU Betting Odds, Injury Report, and Predictions

Ahead of the first game of the season for the Penn State football team, there are a lot of factors to consider. For example, will there be a last-minute injury update prior to the game?. Or if you’re the gambling type, what is the spread, and what additional data should be considered? As we are just two days out from Penn State vs. West Virginia, here are the current betting odds and pregame outlook prior to Saturday night.

Injury Report

Penn State:

Alonzo Ford DT – Out for the Season

Smith Vilbert DE – Out for the Season

Landon Tengwall OL – Medical Retirement

West Virginia:

Davis Mallinger S – Questionable – Back

Betting Odds:

Spread:

Penn State (-20.5) vs. West Virginia

James Franklin’s Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s matchup with good betting odds, currently sitting as a 20.5-point favorite. Penn State is 6-0-1 against the spread in their previous 7 games. The Nittany Lions are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 opening-week matchups. West Virginia is 2-4 against the spread in their previous 6 games.

Penn State football Moneyline: -1450

Placing a $1,450 bet on Penn State to knock off West Virginia would pay $100. Penn State leads the all-time series 48-9-2. The Nittany Lions are currently on a 4 game-win streak against the Mountaineers. The last time these teams met was in 1992, a game that saw Penn State win 40-26 in Morgantown.

Penn State football vs. West Virginia Over/Under: 50.5

The total has gone over in 6 of Penn State’s last 8 games. The total has gone under in the previous 5 matchups for the Nittany Lions against Big 12 conference teams. The total has gone under in 6 of West Virginia’s last 9 games. The total has also gone under in the last 5 Mountaineer road games.

Penn State vs. West Virginia Game Predictions:

Penn State may come out a bit conservative on offense to get new quarterback Drew Allar settled in. Don’t expect that to slow them down, as a heavy dose of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen behind an experienced offensive line should be enough for the Nittany Lions to cover the 20.5-point spread with ease.

West Virginia still has a few question marks on offense themselves. Pair that with a loaded Penn State defense, and this game could get out of hand quickly. That same reason is why I would lean toward the under in this matchup, but it is too close to make it an official pick. It is entirely possible that the Mountaineers are overwhelmed with a new quarterback in a night game at Beaver Stadium and never get the offense going.

Prediction:     Penn State 42     West Virginia 3

Big Ten bet of the Week:

#3 Ohio State (-30) @ Indiana

3:30 pm CBS

Marvin Harrison Jr. will put on a clinic against a weak Hoosier secondary and this game will feel no different than an opening-week MAC opponent. The more interesting aspect of this game will be how the Ohio State defense performs in the 2nd year under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. If improved, this team will solidify itself as a betting favorite to win the Big Ten and National Title.

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