Preseason College Football Playoff contenders, the Penn State Nittany Lions, start their season at Beaver Stadium to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.
The Nittany Lions had a strong 2022 campaign, winning 11 of their 13 games, including a Rose Bowl victory over Utah to close out the season. West Virginia took a backseat in the Big 12, putting up a 5-7 record on the season, winning just three conference matchups.
West Virginia vs. Penn State Betting and DFS Preview
- Spread
Penn State -20.5, West Virginia +20.5 - Moneyline
Penn State -1650, West Virginia +950 - Over/Under
52 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. EST - Location
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA - Predicted Weather at Kick
64 degrees, mostly clear, light winds - How to Watch
FuboTV, NBC
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Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
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Looking for each team’s depth chart? Click the appropriate link to view.
West Virginia Depth Chart | Penn State Depth Chart
- QB Drew Allar, Penn State ($8,900)
- QB Garrett Greene, West Virginia ($7,300)
- QB Nicco Marchiol, West Virginia ($6,500)
- RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State ($8,100)
- RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State ($7,900)
- RB CJ Donaldson Jr., West Virginia ($6,200)
- RB Justin Johnson Jr., West Virginia ($5,600)
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State ($7,000)
- WR Harrison Wallace III, Penn State ($6,300)
- WR Dante Cephas, Penn State ($6,000)
- WR Devin Carter, West Virginia ($6,000)
- WR Ja’Shaun Poke, West Virginia ($5,900)
- WR Liam Clifford, Penn State ($5,600)
- TE Theo Johnson, Penn State ($5,900)
Sean Clifford is now slinging the ball for the Green Bay Packers, which leaves the Penn State quarterback job to sophomore quarterback Drew Allar. He showed great promise last season, throwing four touchdowns and zero interceptions in his short appearances on the field. West Virginia was ranked 110th against the pass last season, so Allar could have a big start to his season by putting up good numbers.
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton is an automatic start every week in fantasy, as he was the best freshman running back in the country last season. His backup Kaytron Allen is no slouch himself, as the two combined for 1,928 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. Playing either one in fantasy is a safe choice, as fans could see both players rush for over 100 yards on the Mountaineers’ defense.
West Virginia more than likely will be rolling with Garrett Greene at quarterback, which could be an interesting play in fantasy. His mobility makes him intriguing, as he can put on the burners in the open field and is only getting better as a passer. Fans don’t know how many points West Virginia will score on last season’s 16th-ranked defense in Penn State, but if Greene protects the ball and gains yards on the ground, he might make for a sleeper pick at quarterback.
Watch out for West Virginia wide receiver Devin Carter, who transferred from NC State to join the Mountaineers this season. He racked up 406 yards and two scores for the Wolfpack last year. There aren’t many viable options at the receiver position, so Carter will be targeted often for West Virginia.
Prediction for West Virginia vs. Penn State
West Virginia must be careful as they need to focus on stopping the run. Penn State is poised to be one of the top rushing attacks in the country and not only have the backs, but three of the five projected starters on the offensive line are returning. The Nittany Lions are going to put up big numbers on the ground to help Allar adjust to life as a starting quarterback.
Penn State has a young linebacking that is all back from last season, with Abdul Carter and Curtis Jacobs racking up over 100 tackles between the two in 2022. The defense ranked 16th in 2022 against the run, and they were a big reason for that, so expect the Mountaineers to struggle to establish the run.
Many are predicting a last-place finish in the Big 12 for West Virginia, which makes the expectations low for this program. Eight starters on offense and defense are seniors, so this might be a transition season to set up next year.
If the Mountaineers want to pull off a major upset on Penn State, they will need Garrett to put up similar numbers to what he did against Oklahoma last season (138 yards passing and 119 yards rushing). The young quarterback has big play potential but lacks experience and the playmakers right now to be an explosive offense.
College football is special in the way that anything can happen on any given weekend. This feels like though that Penn State is just overpowering compared to the Mountaineers. A blowout would not be a total surprise as the Nittany Lions take their first step in competing for a Big Ten title at home in a non-conference game.
Prediction
Penn State 45, West Virginia 17