Penn State vs. Northwestern Total Pick
Can the Northwestern Wildcats find a way to slow down the offense of No. 4 Penn State when these two Big Ten teams meet up on Saturday at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Penn State is favored on the road, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -14.5 points against Northwestern. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 53 points. Northwestern has won two straight meetings with Penn State and the two have hit the over in five of their last six meetings. Saturday’s game takes place from Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The game will air live on ABC.
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Northwestern is 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the Big Ten following a 33-24 loss at Wisconsin last week. The Wildcats are 2-1-1 with the over. Northwestern puts up 30.3 points and 405.3 yards per game on offense this season. Clayton Thorson has thrown for 1,061 yards and seven touchdowns to go with five interceptions. Justin Jackson is the leading rusher with 273 yards and four touchdowns. He is questionable for this weekend’s game due to a leg injury. The Wildcats are allowing 25.3 points and 384.3 yards per game on defense.
Penn State is 5-0 on the season following a 45-14 win over Indiana at home last week. The Nittany Lions are 2-0 in the Big Ten and 4-1 with the under. Penn State has had a dominant defense be the spark behind hitting the unders, as it is giving up just 9.4 points and 289.2 yards per game this season. On offense, PSU is putting up 41.4 points and 471.2 yards per game. The team is being led by Saquon Barkley, an early Heisman candidate. Barkley has run for 574 yards and four touchdowns while catching 27 passes for 386 yards and two more scores. Trace McSorley has thrown for 1,352 yards and 12 touchdowns as well.
Bet on Penn State vs. Northwestern
Penn State looks to be one of the best teams in the country and perhaps the class of the Big Ten this season. The Nittany Lions have a dominant defense and one of the best players in the nation in Barkley. Going on the road against Northwestern will pose somewhat of a challenge. The Wildcats have a defense that should be able to pose some resistance, but they don’t have an offense that is going to move the ball effectively against Penn State.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: PENN STATE/NORTHWESTERN UNDER 53