2024-09-08 07:50:02
Penn State’s biggest test of the non-conference schedule came in Week 1 at West Virginia. the Nittany Lions handled the Mountaineers 34-12 with an impressive offensive performance under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
Now, in Week 2, Drew Allar will have another opportunity to showcase his newfound aggressiveness under Kotelnicki against Bowling Green. The Falcons also got to 1-0 in Week 1, beating Fordham 41-17. Last season Bowling Green finished 7-6 with a loss to Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Penn State is a big favorite in the team’s home opener at Beaver Stadium on Saturday with a Noon ET kickoff on Big Ten Network. Let’s check out the odds for Penn State and Bowling Green.
These odds are available in the FanDuel Sportsbook.
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Penn State’s offense was the story in Week 1, and Allar’s unit should impress against inferior competition in Week 2, but the defense will be the reason that Penn State dominates. In 2023, Manny Diaz’s defense ranked No. 1 in the country against the run, allowing 75.5 rushing yards a game.
Then, in Week 1 with new DC Tom Allen, Tony Rojas and Jaylen Reed led the defense to a dominant performance, allowing just 85 yards on the ground against one of the best running teams in the nation. In 2023, West Virginia finished fourth in the country averaging 228.9 yards on the ground and the Mountaineers returned three 750-yard rushers in CJ Donaldson Jr. Jahiem White, and quarterback Garrett Greene.
Against Fordham last week, Bowling Green ran for 305 yards, led by Terion Stewart who finished with 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries. That level of efficiency on the ground simply won’t be available in Happy Valley on Saturday, so even with sixth-year veteran quarterback Connor Bazelak, the Falcons will struggle to score and Penn State should cruise to a big win. I’ll take the Nittany Lions to win it 44-6.
Last season, Penn State finished 5-1 against the spread as a home favorite and James Franklin comes into this matchup 33-23-2 ATS as Penn State’s head coach as a favorite at Beaver Stadium.
