Akron vs. Penn State Pick
Will No. 6 Penn State put up enough of a show offensively that it will be able to hit the over when it hosts Akron on Saturday at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Penn State is the clear favorite in the game, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -31 points against the Zips. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 66 points. These two will meet up at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The game will air live on ABC.
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Penn State is coming off an 11-3 record in the 2016 season, which included a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions were 11-3 with the over as well, as the team averaged 37.6 points per game on offense while allowing 23.4 on defense. Penn State has some top-level talent on offense. Trace McSorley is back at quarterback after throwing for 3,614 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also rushed for 365 yards and seven touchdowns. In the backfield, Saquon Barkley rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Akron is coming off an 5-7 record in the 2016 season. The Zips were 7-5 with the under last year as well. Akron posted 27.4 points per game this season while allowing 33.6 per contest. Thomas Woodson is back to lead the offense at QB after throwing for 2,079 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior year. He lost his top two receivers in Jerome Lane and JoJo Natson, who combined for 121 receptions, 1,955 yards and 16 touchdowns. Akron does bring back its top two rushers in Van Edwards Jr. and Manny Morgan, but both were held to under 500 yards in 2016.
Penn State has an offense that should put up a lot of points against this Akron football team, but I don’t see the Zips having a great deal of success with the ball against the Nittany Lions on the road. Penn State should be able to keep the Zips from doing much on offense. That will put a lot on Penn State to hit the over and I just don’t see the Nittany Lions scoring enough to do it. The Zips could potentially get shutout, so I think the under will hit.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: AKRON/PENN STATE UNDER 66
