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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
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Penn State is 8-1 SU in week one during the James Franklin era. They’re also 6-3 ATS during that span same. The Mountaineers have a solid offensive line and should have a better offense with an above average running game but it’s their defense where they could struggle especially in the secondary. Penn State returns Drew Allar and the more explosive players on both sides of the ball. In week one, Franklin and the Nittany Lions are 6-3 to the over as well.
Penn State and coach James Franklin have been hearing all offseason about the team's lack of big plays on offense last season. I expect we'll see a much more explosive Nittany Lions offense this season under new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. This line has dropped to the point where the value has swung the opposite direction. I'm on Penn State.
Penn State and Drew Allar look to take advantage of a 12-team playoff and not have to deal with the politics of having one or two losses. They can take care of their own business. The first step on the way is West Virginia. Penn State returns 13 starters from last year and 23 players with starting experience. This is a very talented Penn State squad and the kids want to be there. In today's game, it matters when somebody wants to stay at your school. They can write their own score against West Virginia even with the new offensive coordinator. Penn State to cover.
Defensively the Nittany Lions should be able to frustrate the WVU offense throughout the game. On the offensive side of things, with new OC Andy Kotelnicki, expect them to open up the offense much more and make things a bit more dynamic for their explosive playmakers and QB.
Penn State could be really good this year but WVU is no slouch off a nine-win season in 2023 to save Coach Neal Brown's job, and it's still incredibly tough to win in Morgantown. West Virginia's offense could be one of the Big 12's best with QB Garrett Greene, RBs Jaheim White and CJ Donaldson Jr. and tight end Kole Taylor all back. The Mountaineers also should remain very strong on the O-Line. They rank No. 24 nationally in returning production overall via ESPN. Do I think they pull the upset? No, but I don't completely rule it out and certainly WVU can hang within 10.
Team Injuries
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