Penn State Nittany Lions vs. West Virginia Mountaineers 8/31/24 – After concluding a satisfying 10-3 season last year, the Penn State Nittany Lions are looking forward to a fresh new challenge as they face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers who culminated their season with a 9-4 record, in what promises to be an electrifying opening week encounter. Both teams, having performed well in their last season, are determined to rise up to the occasion of the new season. A clash at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium will be held, and as it looks even now, this match is going to be one of the best NCAAF picks today. The match commences at 12:00 PM ET and will be live on FOX with streaming on Sofascore.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. West Virginia Mountaineers 8/31/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Penn State Nittany Lions (10-3 Last Season) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-4 Last Season)
The smooth offense of Penn State led by quarterback Drew Allar features quite a healthy passing game and the powerful running game courtesy of Kaytron Allen. Allen who managed to run for 902 yards last season remains very important as well for the Nittany Lions as that helps them to strike a balance in their air game as well as ground penetration with ease. KeAndre Lambert Smith is back after having decent 673 receiving yards and remains an important target for Allar with the ball. How these two do as well as other players will be crucial, especially in view of the contest between New Mexico and Arizona where such configurations can help predict results.
On the other hand, West Virginia’s response is their quarterback Garrett Greene, who brings in a slightly lower completion percentage but has a better yards per pass attempt which indicates a more aggressive yet maybe a helpful aerial strategy. A running back in Jahiem White, who last season averaged 7.7 yards a run and a big play wide receiver in Hudson Clement will be instrumental in keeping up with Penn State’s offensive prowess. The Mountaineers are also going to have to use their home court advantage such as in the Weber State vs Washington match, where they effectively threw off the Nittany Lions’ plays.
Drew Allar QB vs. Garrett Greene QB
In Drew Allar’s last season, he comfortably added 2631 passing yards while completing around 59.9 percent of pass attempts, which were good for an impressive quarterback efficiency. He had a low interception count, which implies that he is a smart playmaker-a quality that is valuable in high level engagements. Nonetheless, he has shown vulnerabilities that could be his focus of West Virginia due to the 15 sacks he let in, a performance that avers.
On the other hand, Garrett Greene of West Virginia is more of the other extreme with his numbers, as he has 2406 passing yards but has a 52.9 percent completion rate on his attempts. In spite of this, his yards per attempt remain commendable at 8.7 yards which prove that he is capable of making big plays. These factors may create dangers for Penn State’s defense and inject some excitement into the battle of quarterbacks.
In the event of the two quarterbacks meeting on the battlefield, it will be a fight of who is better between Allar riddled or Greene daring inside the field. The result could most probably depend on which of the quarterbacks is able to take better advantage of the opposition’s defensive loopholes.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Penn State Nittany Lions -10 -110, Total Odds: 50.5
The betting odds favor Penn State significantly, which reflects their strong performance trends and lower risk profile. However, the 10-point spread also suggests that West Virginia is not to be underestimated, especially with their home-field advantage.
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends
Penn State’s recent form, going 15-4-1 ATS in their last 20 games, makes them a strong bet in the eyes of many. Their undefeated streak against Big 12 opponents further cements their reputation as formidable contenders in inter-conference games.
West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends
Despite some struggles against Big Ten teams, West Virginia’s overall record is solid. Their ability to cover spreads at home (5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games) will be key in trying to upset Penn State’s rhythm.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. West Virginia Mountaineers 8/31/24 Betting Picks
Taking into consideration all relevant factors, this time we are leaning towards a bet on the spread for Penn State. We should see a balanced offense and some decent play by the quarterback, which should be enough for Penn State to win. However, the total is likely to go over 50.5 based on both teams’ offensive strength and the tendency for overs in West Virginia games.
Moreover, for proposition bets, one might be able to look at Drew Allar’s passing yards, or Kaytron Allen’s rushing yards as some additional betting opportunities. Make sure to utilize such premium matchup reviews in order to improve your betting strategy.