Penn State vs. West Virginia prediction, odds, time: 2024 college football picks, Week 1 bets from top model

The No. 8 seed Penn State Nittany Lions travel to play the West Virginia Mountaineers in a non-conference battle to open the 2024 College Football season. Last season, the Nittany Lions were one of the best teams in the Big Ten, going 10-3. Ole Miss defeated Penn State 38-25 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. On the opposite sideline, WVU finished the 2023 campaign with a 9-4 record. In the Duke Mayo's Bowl, the Mountaineers blew out North Carolina 30-10.

Kickoff from Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium is noon ET. The Nittany Lions are 7.5-point favorites in the latest Penn State vs. West Virginia odds via SportsLine consensus after opening at -12. The over/under is up to 50 after opening at 49.5. Before making any West Virginia vs. Penn State picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model .

The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Penn State vs. WVU and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks . Here are the college football odds and betting lines on the spread , money line and over/under for WVU vs. Penn State:

• Penn State vs. West Virginia spread: Nittany Lions -7.5
• Penn State vs. West Virginia over/under: 50 points
• Penn State vs. West Virginia money line: Nittany Lions -303, Mountaineers +242
• PSU: Penn State has covered the spread in nine of last 13 games
• WVU: 8-5 ATS last season
• Penn State vs. West Virginia picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Penn State can cover

Penn State was one of the best teams in the Big Ten last season and the Nittany Lions are looking to continue that play in the fall. During the 2023 campaign, they were second in total offense (400.2), fifth in passing offense (215  and first in both rushing offense (185.2) and scoring offense (36.2). In addition, they scored 40-plus points in five games.

Junior quarterback Drew Allar has a big-time arm with the ability to make throws on all three levels. Allar threw for 2,631 yards with 25 passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior running back Kaytron Allen was one of the top options in the backfield. Allen has good size to bully defenders and make it tough to bring him down. The Virginia native notched 172 carries for 902 yards, six touchdowns, and 5.2 yards per rush. He had six games with at least 70 rushing yards last season. See which team to pick here .

Why West Virginia can cover

The Mountaineers have a lot of key players on offense returning and they will look to pick up where they left off in 2023. Last season, West Virginia ranked fifth in the Big 12 in scoring offense (31.5) and led the conference in rushing offense (228.9). Senior quarterback Garrett Greene provides this squad with a dual-threat signal caller. Greene racked up 2,178 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 708 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores.

The ground game led the attack for the offense and that will be the gameplan again this season. Last year, they had three players who logged 700 yards on the ground. Sophomore running back Jahiem White was the main difference maker in the backfield. He amassed 842 rushing yards, four scores, and 7.7 yards per carry. Junior running back CJ Donaldson Jr . provides West Virginia with an additional force. In 2023, he recorded 798 yards with a team-high 11 touchdowns. See which team to pick here .

How to make Penn State vs. West Virginia picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 55 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 70% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine .

So who wins Penn State vs. West Virginia, and which side of the spread hits in well over 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer simulation model that's up well over $2,000 on its college football picks since inception , and find out.