Last season, the Penn State Nittany Lions finished with a record of 11-2. They took wins over the Purdue Boilermakers and Minnesota Golden Gophers to achieve the Rose Bowl in January. College Football Betting losses to the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes led to a 2-2 run in October. But a 5-0 run to start its season and a stellar final stretch solidified a memorable run in 2022. Penn State would defeat Utah in the Rose Bowl. To illuminate, they were rallied by the 279 passing yards of quarterback Sean Clifford. Also of help were the 120 rushing yards of running back Nicholas Singleton.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, September 2, ET, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA |
| TV Coverage: | NBC and Peacock |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | +20½ -110 | 50½ -110 | +900 |  |
| Penn State | -20½ -110 | 50½ -110 | -1500 | |
| ||||
West Virginia at Penn State SBG Odds Overview
Specifically in the Roser Bowl, Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown totaled eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles for loss. He picked off a pass from Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes in the third quarter. To show, Brown was tracking down a lofted pass to receiver Devaughn Vele as Penn State was up by seven points. Now Brown parlayed that sportsbook performance into a spot with the San Francisco 49ers. Penn State is the much more appealing brand in this matchup.
West Virginia Mountaineers Team Overview
It is true that it’s a make-or-break year for Neal Brown in 2023. The Mountaineers are coming off a 5-7 record, which dropped Brown’s overall mark to 22-25. Last year, the defense surrendered 32.9 points a game. And it remains a concern going into this fall. Standout Dante Stills will be missed up front, and a leaky secondary has to play better.
Although the quarterback battle between Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol will continue, the offense has a solid foundation to build around.
Out of the 14 teams in the Big 12 conference going into 2023, just two didn’t go to bowl games last year. Namely, Iowa State was one, and the other was West Virginia.
So it is understandable why there’s little fanfare so far over the four-year run under head coach Neal Brown. The program hasn’t been a player in the Big 12 race. Also, it’s just 22-25 overall.
Penn State Nittany Lions Team Overview
The Nittany Lions take third place in most Big Ten East Division predictions. But coach James Franklin’s team isn’t far behind Michigan and Ohio State. Quarterback Drew Allar is a rising star. And he should help to elevate Penn State’s passing game to another level. Following a couple of years of steady play from Sean Clifford.
Correlate that Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen form a dynamic pairing in the backfield. And there’s plenty of optimism about the offensive line. Especially with future first-round pick Olu Fashanu anchoring the left side. The biggest question mark on offense rests at receiver.
Despite losing cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Ji’Ayir Brown, the Nittany Lions should have one of the top defenses in the Big Ten. Linebacker Abdul Carter and ends Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson top the lineup for coordinator Manny Diaz.
West Virginia at Penn State SBG Free Picks
At the season’s onset, the Nittany Lions know they need a strong start. Penn State has the superior College Football Betting firepower here.
West Virginia at Penn State SBG Best Bet: Penn State Nittany Lions.