Both Penn State and Northwestern are eager to secure their first conference victory of the season as they prepare for their Big Ten clash on Friday night. However, their Week 4 performances were quite different. The Nittany Lions faced a tough 24-20 defeat at home against Wisconsin, despite being favored by 10.5 points, while Northwestern put up a strong fight against #6 Indiana, ultimately losing 29-23.

With the Wildcats debuting their newly renovated stadium, this matchup presents an exciting opportunity for the home team. Currently, Penn State holds a 3-1 record, having previously defeated Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo before their setback against Wisconsin. In contrast, Northwestern stands at 2-1, with victories over South Dakota State and Colorado, along with that narrow loss to Indiana. What does this all mean when making Penn St. vs. Northwestern picks?

Penn St. vs. Northwestern Predictions for CFB Week 5, Friday, 10/2

While the Nittany Lions have talent on both offense and defense, their performance has been inconsistent. It was just falling apart against Wisconsin, as they allowed Temple to remain competitive earlier in the season as well. On the other hand, Northwestern has been a pleasant surprise, challenging a top-tier Big Ten team in Indiana after already having a dominant 41-7 win over Colorado.

This sets the stage for an exciting Friday night game in Evanston, marking a significant moment for the Wildcats at their revamped Ryan Field. So, in our eyes, the pick to go with when making Penn St. vs. Northwestern predictions is Wildcats moneyline at +120, Penn St. vs. Northwestern odds from Fanatics Sportsbook. 

Penn St. vs. Northwestern Expert Pick: Wildcats ML (+120 at Fanatics Sportsbook)

While it’d be ideal to have the Wildcats at +3.5 for some extra security, I'm still confident in taking Northwestern to win outright at plus money for these Penn St. vs. Northwestern picks. My main reason is that I haven't seen enough from Penn State to trust them on the road, especially after last week. The Nittany Lions were favored by 10.5 points at home but ended up losing 24-20, allowing Wisconsin to stage a comeback in the closing minutes.

Although Penn State's defense had been solid for most of the season, that late-game failure highlighted that they might not be as strong as their early results suggested. Additionally, it's important to consider their schedule; their first three opponents — Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo — aren’t necessarily the toughest opponents, making it hard to gauge how they’d fare against a team that can actually move the ball effectively.

Wisconsin was a tough challenge for Penn State, and they didn't quite measure up. In contrast, Northwestern has already faced a similar test and performed admirably. The Wildcats went to Bloomington last Friday night and fought hard against Indiana, ultimately losing 29-23. 

Aidan Chiles has been a key factor in Northwestern's promising start. The transfer quarterback from Michigan State has been impressive, completing over 75% of his passes in the last two games against Colorado and Indiana, throwing five touchdowns without any interceptions. 

Additionally, Northwestern boasts playmakers who can capitalize on these opportunities. Griffin Wilde stands out with 14 receptions and 245 receiving yards, including a strong performance against Indiana where he caught six passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns, proving he can compete against the best of the best. 

The upcoming game on Friday marks the inaugural match at Northwestern's newly renovated Ryan Field, which underwent nearly two years of extensive upgrades costing around $875 million. This is generating a lot of buzz, and the atmosphere could play a significant role in the outcome, especially given the stakes of the matchup.

Northwestern has proven to be more competitive than many anticipated, going 3-0 against the spread early in this season. With odds at +120, we just need Northwestern to play as they did against Indiana; that should be enough to beat this Penn State team. Adding everything up, our Penn St. vs. Northwestern predictions feel inclined to take a chance on Northwestern pulling off the upset.

 

 

 

How To Watch Penn St. vs. Northwestern - CFB Week 5

  • Date: Friday, October 2nd
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
  • TV: FOX

Penn St. vs. Northwestern Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

As we get ready for the exciting game, along with our Penn St. vs. Northwestern predictions for this Friday, it's important to take a look at the most recent Penn St. vs. Northwestern odds from Fanatics Sportsbook:

  • Money Line (ML): Nittany Lions -145 | Wildcats +120
  • Spread: Nittany Lions -2.5 (-120) | Wildcats +2.5 (+100)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 45.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

 

 

 

Penn St. vs. Northwestern Injury Report & Latest News

Penn State Injury Report

  • C. Rosa, K - Questionable (Undisclosed)
  • D. Sheffey, RB - Questionable (Undisclosed)
  • B. Kortovich, TE - Questionable (Undisclosed)
  • K. Howard, WR - Out (Undisclosed)
  • M. Granville, DL - Out (Undisclosed)

Northwestern Injury Report

  • J. McDuffie, WR - Doubtful (Undisclosed)
  • T. McGlinchey, TE - Out (Undisclosed)
  • H. Eligon II, WR - Questionable (Lower Body)
  • L. Dehnicke, TE - Questionable (Undisclosed)
  • B. Turner, CB - Out (Undisclosed)
  • C. Farrell, WR - Out (Undisclosed)
  • C. Petrucci, TE - Out (Undisclosed)

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