Penn State vs. West Virginia Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Mountaineers Stun Drew Allar, Nittany Lions?
The Penn State Nittany Lions will visit the West Virginia Mountaineers for an old rivalry battle on Saturday afternoon. Can Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions avoid the opening week upset in Morgantown? NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to give his prediction and pick for this Week 1 clash between Penn State and West Virginia.
Peter Alexis - August 28, 2024, 5:00 PM EDT
7 minPenn State vs. West Virginia Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Mountaineers Stun Drew Allar, Nittany Lions?
The West Virginia Mountaineers will welcome the No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions to Morgantown on Saturday afternoon for Big Noon Kickoff. These teams have a lot of history, and Drew Allar will be leading the Nittany Lions as they try to avoid an upset to start their season.
This interstate rivalry dates back to 1904, with Penn State largely dominating the series with 49 wins to West Virginia's nine. The Nittany Lions delivered a 38-15 beatdown in State College last year in the first meeting in over 30 years. The fanbases are fired up for brief renewal of this showdown, with the two schools separated by less than 200 miles. In the current college football landscape, it is tough to keep these rivalries every year, and this may be the last matchup for many years.
Penn State opened as a 10.5-point favorite earlier in the summer, before slowly leaking down to the -8.5 number available now. The moneyline odds have the Nittany Lions at -300, making the Mountaineers a slighter +230 underdog as they look to pull the upset against their rival. Elsewhere, the total has climbed up to 51.5 to 49.5 as bettors are backing more offense with returning quarterbacks.
NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to provide his prediction and pick for this opening weekend matchup of Penn State vs. West Virginia from Morgantown.
Penn State vs. West Virginia Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds
- Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
- Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
Penn State vs. West Virginia Odds
- Spread: Penn State -8.5 (-105), West Virginia +8.5 (-115)
- Total Odds: O 51.5 (-110), U 51.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Penn State (-300), West Virginia (+230)
Penn State vs. West Virginia Injury Report
Penn State
Questionable: WR Peter Gonzalez, QB Jaxon Smolik
Out: N/A
West Virginia
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Penn State vs. West Virginia Prediction
Penn State will bring back Drew Allar at quarterback, who will look for a break through in his junior season. The former 5-star recruit was pegged as the promised man for the Nittany Lions, but he struggled with accuracy down the field last year, and had trouble making big plays.
Penn State has been able to lean on their star duo at running back, with Nick Singleton and and Kaytron Allen returning for the Nittany Lions. The juniors combined for over 1,500 yards on the ground and 17 total touchdowns last year, and are ready to carry the offense to new heights in 2024. Allar needs all the help he can get to find his rhythm, and it will be up to these two to set the tone.
This line began with PSU as a double-digit favorite, but has collapsed down to just 8.5 as the game approaches on Saturday afternoon. The move has been aided by some bigger money backing West Virginia to keep it close at home. While receiving the just 31% of the bets, the Mountaineers are bridging the gap with 51% of the handle, with some sharp wagers coming in on QB Garrett Greene and WVU that caused this line to trend down. The spread is unlikely to fall past a touchdown, but the moves are indicative of bettors belief in a one-possession game down the stretch.
The Nittany Lions have a tougher schedule in 2024, but the matchups line in a favorable way to give them a solid shot at the College Football Playoff. Two of their hardest tests are at home with Ohio State and UCLA visiting. If they can take down the Buckeyes, it will be almost impossible to deny them from the CFP field. The oddsmakers understand this, giving them -145 odds to make the Playoff, good for the 7th-best odds entering Week 1.
With the way the Big Ten is set up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Penn State find a way into the field with a 10-2 record. And while I don't expect them to lose this game, it looks more likely to be a close matchup versus a blowout like the one from a year ago. Garrett Greene and Jahiem White will lead this Mountaineers team on offense, and should find a way to keep pace with Penn State. They are on the hunt for revenge from last year, and have a more developed group around them. After winning five of their last six games, including a blowout win in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, Neal Brown's team should be ready for a hot start at home to kick off their 2024 campaign. They may not be able to upset the Nittany Lions outright, but they should push them to the brink in Morgantown.
Penn State vs. West Virginia Pick
Pick: West Virginia +8.5 (-115) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
College Football Odds
