West Virginia vs. Penn State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton Will Flourish in Week 1
On Saturday night, West Virginia takes on Penn State in Pennsylvania. Jason Radowitz explains why Drew Allar and Nicholas Singleton will flourish in Week 1. Read on to see his West Virginia vs. Penn State prediction, pick, and the latest odds.
Jason Radowitz - August 28, 2023, 10:14 AM EDT
5 minWest Virginia vs. Penn State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton Will Flourish in Week 1
The Penn State Nittany Lions can never get by Ohio State and Michigan.
Penn State last won the Big Ten in 2016. It's been Ohio State and Michigan every year since.
But this might be its year.
The Nittany Lions have given one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the nation the keys to the offense.
His name is Drew Allar.
He took the field multiple times last year for Penn State as Sean Clifford's backup. But now he's the starter, and that extra year to learn could be the difference for Allar.
On the other hand, West Virginia didn't even make a bowl game last season. The Mountaineers finished 5-7 overall but still went 6-3 in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers improved in the second half of the season. Now, they'll look to take that momentum into this year.
Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Saturday's game between the West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions.
West Virginia vs. Penn State Date, Start Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: September 2, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: NBC
West Virginia vs. Penn State Odds
- Spread: West Virginia +20.5 (-110), Penn State -20.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: O/U 50.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: West Virginia (+925), Penn State (-1400)
West Virginia vs. Penn State Injury Report
West Virginia
Questionable: S Davis Mallinger (Back)
Penn State
Out: DT Alonzo Ford (Undisclosed)
West Virginia vs. Penn State Prediction
I touched on it above. But there's so much hype surrounding this Penn State offense this season.
And it's all for good reason. The 19-year-old Drew Allar will get to start for the Nittany Lions after one season on the bench as a freshman.
Allar threw for 344 yards and added four touchdowns with no interceptions last year. He completed over 58% of passes and had at least ten passing attempts in three games last season.
Allar played in garbage time against bad Big Ten opponents. But just getting him on the field was crucial for his development.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Singleton, who will also be a sophomore, added 1,061 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He added 6.8 yards per carry. Plus, his sidekick and other running back, Kaytron Allen, added 867 yards and ten touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Penn State is expected to have one of the best offensive lines in the nation this season. They've got Olu Fashanu, who is expected to be a top-15 pick in the NFL Draft next season.
Finally, he's got plenty of receivers who can make plays down the field. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, for example, added 16 yards per catch last season. They also added Kent State transfer Dante Cephas, who added 1,984 in his previous two seasons, averaging more than 15 yards per play.
On the other hand, West Virginia will look to stay toe-to-toe with that Penn State offense. The only non-question mark about this team is the offensive line. It'll be a good line. But how will Garrett Greene play at quarterback?
Greene is a junior quarterback who threw five touchdowns and three interceptions last season. He completed just 55.1% of passes on 78 attempts. He doesn't have much experience. However, he's been with the Mountainers since 2020. He knows the players and should understand the system. But the Mountaineers didn't believe in him enough last year because they added JT Daniels as a transfer.
That probably says something about how much West Virginia trusts Greene.
Greene will likely struggle against a dominant Penn State defense. Sure, the secondary for Penn State has to be replenished. But the pass rush should be very effective, leading to more turnovers.
The Nittany Lions were No. 1 in the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for a loss. They were also dominant in the red zone. That won't change.
Meanwhile, the West Virginia defense has a lot of transfers. They've lost Dante Stills and Jordan Jefferson on the defensive line, which won't help. Still, there's talent on this defense. It's just going to take time for everything to develop.
Take Penn State -20.5.
West Virginia vs. Penn State Pick
- Penn State -20.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
College Football Odds
