PREMIUM
West Virginia vs. Penn State (Over 48.5): BEST BET NCAAF
(NCAAF) West Virginia vs. Penn State,
Total: 48.50 | -107.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 48.50 | -107.00 Over
Result: Win
I'm picking the over in the WVU-PSU game as my best bet of Saturday's college football slate. The total has come down from 53, giving us plenty of room to cover, as I feel confident bettors are underestimating the combined scoring power of the Nittany Lions and Mountaineers.
Penn State will expose a West Virginia defense that struggled against good passing attacks last season, couldn't get off the field on third down, and didn't generate enough takeaways. The Nittany Lions have "their man" at quarterback, former five-star recruit Drew Allar. He looks like everything PSU hoped that Christian Hackenberg would be. The 6-foot-5 signal-caller will diagnose the defense behind a great PSU offense line, and he's got playmakers, too.
Nick Singleton (1,061 yards, 12 TDs, and 6.8 YPC) is a star, but the Lions have a three-headed monster with Kaytron Allen (867 yards and ten scores) and Minnesota transfer Trey Potts. Penn State lost its top three pass catchers from last year but has reloaded. Junior WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (389 yards, 16.2 YPC AVG), junior tight end Theo Johnson (328 yards, 16.4 YPC AVG), and explosive Kent State transfer Dante Cephas (130 passes for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons) will all be tough to cover. The Mountaineers' defense lost stars Dante Stills and tackle Jordan Jefferson on the defensive line, and the linebackers look even more questionable than the D-line. In other words, look out...
The Mountaineers' offense, though, is the unit I believe isn't getting enough credit. The O-line could be one of the best in the Big 12, with three potential all-conference starters at center and the tackle spots. They are experienced and tough enough to open holes for the WVU running backs, who galloped for 4.6 yards per carry last season, hitting the 200-yard mark five times. The real difference maker, however, is QB Garrett Greene. The junior took over later in the season last year for JT Daniels and offers the WVU coaching staff a more mobile option (45 carries for 276 yards and five TDs) under center. The Florida native can sling it, too, and has a solid receiving group headlined by transfers Devin Carter (NC State) and Ja’Shun Poke (Kent State).
The PSU defense lost a couple of stars in the secondary, safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who led the team in tackles and interceptions, and top corner Joey Porter Jr. The LBs are still emerging, too. It may not be as easy as some think for the Lions to slow down the Mountaineers' offense.
Penn State will expose a West Virginia defense that struggled against good passing attacks last season, couldn't get off the field on third down, and didn't generate enough takeaways. The Nittany Lions have "their man" at quarterback, former five-star recruit Drew Allar. He looks like everything PSU hoped that Christian Hackenberg would be. The 6-foot-5 signal-caller will diagnose the defense behind a great PSU offense line, and he's got playmakers, too.
Nick Singleton (1,061 yards, 12 TDs, and 6.8 YPC) is a star, but the Lions have a three-headed monster with Kaytron Allen (867 yards and ten scores) and Minnesota transfer Trey Potts. Penn State lost its top three pass catchers from last year but has reloaded. Junior WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (389 yards, 16.2 YPC AVG), junior tight end Theo Johnson (328 yards, 16.4 YPC AVG), and explosive Kent State transfer Dante Cephas (130 passes for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons) will all be tough to cover. The Mountaineers' defense lost stars Dante Stills and tackle Jordan Jefferson on the defensive line, and the linebackers look even more questionable than the D-line. In other words, look out...
The Mountaineers' offense, though, is the unit I believe isn't getting enough credit. The O-line could be one of the best in the Big 12, with three potential all-conference starters at center and the tackle spots. They are experienced and tough enough to open holes for the WVU running backs, who galloped for 4.6 yards per carry last season, hitting the 200-yard mark five times. The real difference maker, however, is QB Garrett Greene. The junior took over later in the season last year for JT Daniels and offers the WVU coaching staff a more mobile option (45 carries for 276 yards and five TDs) under center. The Florida native can sling it, too, and has a solid receiving group headlined by transfers Devin Carter (NC State) and Ja’Shun Poke (Kent State).
The PSU defense lost a couple of stars in the secondary, safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who led the team in tackles and interceptions, and top corner Joey Porter Jr. The LBs are still emerging, too. It may not be as easy as some think for the Lions to slow down the Mountaineers' offense.
