Northwestern Wildcats vs Penn St. Nittany Lions Betting Picks & Predictions

Game outlook

The Northwestern Wildcats are set to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET. Northwestern is coming off a strong win against Northeastern, while Penn State recently defeated UPenn. Penn State has historically had the upper hand in matchups against Northwestern, but the Wildcats came out on top in their two meetings last season. Penn State is the current favorite with a line of -5.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Wildcats +180 | Nittany Lions -222

Spread: Wildcats +5 (-110) | Nittany Lions -5 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 144.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Penn St. will win straight-up is 69%.

Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern enters Thursday's Big Ten matchup on a four-game winning streak, coming off a dominant victory against Northeastern in which they outscored their opponent by 25 points in the second half. Heading into the game against Penn State, junior forward Nick Martinelli leads the Wildcats in scoring, followed by standout players such as senior guard Brooks Barnhizer and senior guard Jalen Leach. According to KenPom rankings, Northwestern is the 45th-best college basketball team in the country, excelling in both offensive and defensive efficiency. With a solid record of 10-3 this season, the Wildcats boast a strong defense that allows an average of 64.17 points per game while scoring an average of 73.75 points per game. Additionally, Northwestern demonstrates efficient shooting percentages and effective ball distribution on offense and defense. With no injuries reported, Northwestern is prepared to take on Penn State and continue their winning streak.