Penn St. Nittany Lions vs
West Virginia MountaineersPredictions & Preview

Penn State Favored to Win Rematch Against West Virginia in Season Opener

In a highly anticipated season opener, No. 8 Penn State will face off against West Virginia in a week 1 rematch from last season. Penn State, who had a 10-3 record in 2023, suffered losses only to teams ranked 11th or higher, while West Virginia had a successful 9-4 campaign last year. The Nittany Lions are favored to win the game with an opening line of -10, which has since shifted to Penn State -8. Kickoff is set for noon EST at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Nittany Lions -303 | Mountaineers +250
• Spread: Nittany Lions -8 (-110) | Mountaineers +8 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 51.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Penn St. will win straight-up is 75%.

Penn St. vs West Virginia Stats

Penn St. Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions finished the season ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings after facing losses to Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan, both ranked No. 3 at the time of their matchups. The team lost 11 starters to the NFL and both coordinators have departed as well. Head Coach James Franklin is entering his 11th season with the team, aiming for a third consecutive double-digit win campaign for the first time since the early 80s.

Offensively, the team saw their leading receiver transfer to Auburn but welcomes back starting QB Drew Allar. Allar had a strong performance last season with 2,631 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Ohio State-transfer wideout Julian Fleming is expected to make an impact after a successful career with the Buckeyes. Defensively, the Nittany Lions excelled in the Big Ten last season, ranking first in total yards allowed and third in points per game against.

Penn State is currently ranked 12th in offense, scoring an average of 36.23 points per game, and third in defense, allowing an average of 13.46 points per game against them. The team is 0-0 this season and looking to build on their success from the previous year.

West Virginia Mountaineers Analysis

West Virginia Mountaineers had a successful season under head coach Neal Brown, with two bowl victories in five seasons. They are preparing to face the eighth ranked team in the country in their season opener, with the opportunity to seek revenge and start the season strong. The team returns starting QB Garrett Greene and RB Jahiem White, providing a solid foundation. On defense, they ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total yards allowed last season. Safety Aubrey Burks is expected to play a versatile role this season. Currently, the Mountaineers have a power ranking of 52 and are ranked #40 for offense and #63 for defense, with a record of 0-0 overall. Against Penn State, they have won their last three matchups.

Penn State Favored to Dominate Mountaineers in Highly Anticipated Rematch

In their matchup last season, Penn State secured a 38-15 victory against Mountaineers on their home field. Quarterback Greene of Mountaineers struggled against the formidable Penn State defense, throwing 16-27 for 162 yards without any touchdowns. The Nittany Lions have a highly effective defensive backfield, making it challenging for Greene to make successful passes. On the other hand, Allar excelled against the Mountaineers defense last year, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Despite facing a hostile crowd and lacking some key targets, Allar's experience as a starter should benefit him in this game. The weather forecast predicts possible thunderstorms in Morgantown, which may dampen the energetic crowd. Penn State, ranked eighth in the nation, boasts a well-rounded team on both offense and defense. Considering these factors, it is recommended to choose Penn State to cover in this game.

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