Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin is a love-and-hate College Football Betting proposition. Franklin is a dynamic salesman and recruiter for the program. He has moved Penn State beyond the Joe Paterno era. At the same time, he is maintaining respect for school tradition and history. Franklin has delivered a Big Ten Conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth. And he has posted three 11-win campaigns. All of that success has set Penn State up for the highest expectations of fans and gamblers. But with that success comes the demand for more.
College Football Team Preview 2023 Penn State Nittany Lions
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +2000 |
|---|---|
| Odds to win Big Ten Championship: | +600 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 9.5 |
2023 Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule
- Aug 26 OPEN DATE
- Sept 2 West Virginia
- Sept 9 Delaware
- Sept 16 at Illinois
- Sept 23 Iowa
- Sept 30 at Northwestern
- Oct 7 OPEN DATE
- Oct 14 UMass
- Oct 21 at Ohio State
- Oct 28 Indiana
- Nov 4 at Maryland
- Nov 11 Michigan
- Nov 18 Rutgers
- Nov 25 at Michigan State
2023 Penn State Nittany Lions Preview
Adding to this year’s offshore betting expectations was an 11-2 Rose Bowl championship season in 2022. Consider that Franklin and the Nittany Lions were coming off lackluster campaigns of 4-5 in 2020 and 7-6 last year. It was shocking how Penn State won its first five games in 2021. And then climbed to #4 in the national rankings, only to finish 2-6 down the stretch. Additionally, the Nittany Lions were dominated by a less-talented Arkansas Razorback program in a 24-10 Outback Bowl loss.
James Franklin was a hot property when Penn State reached its peak of College Football Betting power in 2021. In fact, he was rumored to be a coaching prospect for the USC Trojans. Franklin infuriated Penn State fans, donors, and administrators by not denying the rumors. But by the end of the season, it was obvious that Franklin had overplayed his hand. Nobody wanted Franklin as their coach, especially many fans and important higher-ups at State College. Correlate that Penn State fans were eager for Franklin to go away.
Instead of leaving Happy Valley, Franklin stayed to get a massive extension and a new contract. For many fans, it was a case of failing forward. For Franklin, it was a humbling experience. He tried to say that he never wanted to leave and was laughed at for doing so. But the 2022 season served to heal a lot of wounds. And now Happy Valley is thinking championship in 2023.
Penn State has 14 returning starters and a couple of rising stars in quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Thus, Penn State is poised to push Michigan and Ohio State for the top spot in the Big Ten this fall. The Nittany Lions need to restock the receiving corps. But the offense was boosted when left tackle Olu Fashanu returned for 2023 instead of entering the NFL Draft.
Overall, Penn State’s defense ranked among the best in the Big Ten last year. That is providing replacements emerge at tackle and cornerback. This unit should remain at the top of the conference in ’23. A road test at Ohio State looms large. But coach James Franklin’s team gets defending Big Ten champ Michigan in Happy Valley.