Correlate that James Franklin is back as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Franklin was riding high in the first half of the 2021 season as the hottest candidate on the coaching carousel. And he did nothing to fend off potential offers from other schools. Penn State fans were furious. Especially when the Nittany Lions collapsed with the College football lines in the second half of the season. PSU Faithful were ready to send Franklin anywhere he’d like. Instead, Franklin got a raise and extension to stay at Penn State.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Purdue Boilermakers NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Thursday, September 1, 2022, 8 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | -3½ (-110) | 54½ (-110) | -165 |  |
| Boilermakers | +3½ (-110) | 54½ (-110) | +145 | |
| ||||
Penn State at Purdue SBG Odds Overview
Of course, James Franklin can do much to win back the faithful with a win on Thursday night at the Purdue Boilermakers. But it is no offshore bookmaker lock. Purdue is well-coached, creative, and confident at home. However, Penn State has the deeper and more talented lineup. At the betting window, the Nittany Lions are a much bigger brand than the Boilermakers.
Penn State Nittany Lions Team Overview
Consider that from 2016-2019, Penn State posted 42 wins, a Big Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl appearance, and Fiesta and Sugar Bowl wins. Thus, PSU knows success under James Franklin. Penn State is not currently playing at the national championship level. But they are not far from being in the College Football Playoff. On the other hand, Penn State is 11-11 in its last 22 games. And it doesn’t have the offensive line or running game to be this year’s Michigan.
Of great concern is that Penn State is coming off a rough finish going 2-6 at the end of last year. Sean Clifford is back at quarterback after throwing for over 3,100 yards and 21 touchdowns with eight picks. While Clifford is a quality QB, he needs to elevate the offense and team in his fifth year with the program.
Purdue Boilermakers Team Overview
Following a strong season that ended with a bowl win over Tennessee, Purdue has maintained its work ethic. Also, the Boilermakers bring plenty of returning experience. Head coach Jeff Brohm has done an excellent job recruiting to put this all together after a few tough seasons. But Purdue must show it can sustain its success.
QB Aidan O’Connell is going into his sixth year with the program. Thus, his experience will help the young and inexperienced receiving corp. He took over and made the job his. Last year he threw for over 3,700 yards and 28 touchdowns. In sum, he completed an impressive 72% of his passes.
Penn State at Purdue Betting Trends
Specifically, against Purdue, Penn State has won six of the last seven meetings straight up. The Boilermakers got the cash in only four of their last 15 games against Penn State. Purdue has covered only three of their previous nine home games.
Penn State at Purdue SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Penn State makes for a strong contrarian play with the College football lines. The public will be enamored with Purdue at home in a prime time season opener. Penn State carries a fair price.
Penn State at Purdue SBG Best Bet: Penn State Nittany Lions.