The No. 8 Michigan Wolverines (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) and No. 23 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-3) meet for a Saturday noon ET game at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. Below, we look at the Michigan vs. Penn State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Michigan is coming off a 29-7 victory over Indiana last week. The Wolverines have now held opponents under 20 points in seven games this season. They’ve allowed just 16.0 points per game overall, which ranks sixth in the nation.
Penn State snapped a three-game skid with a 31-14 win at Maryland last Saturday. But things weren’t easy for the Nittany Lions. PSU and Maryland were tied 14-all at the 14-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Lions defense was stingy down the stretch, and that’s nothing new. Penn State has held foes to 16.7 PPG this season to rank 10th in FBS.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Michigan at Penn State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Michigan -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Penn State +102 (bet $100 to win $102)
- Against the spread (ATS): Michigan -1.5 (-112) | Penn State +1.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Michigan at Penn State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Penn State 24, Michigan 20
Money line
The Lions beat the Wolverines 27-17 last season. PSU outperformed Michigan on third-down plays and outgained them by 131 total yards. UM had just one drive longer than 45 yards over the last three quarters.
Penn State has won two straight and three of the last four meetings against Michigan.
Can Michigan continue to finish drives and make stops at rates that belie what the Wolverines do on the less dangerous 70 yards of the gridiron? Figure a lean toward “no.”
Peg the Lions as being worthy as a pick ’em in this spot at home. TAKE PENN STATE (+102).
Against the spread
PASS and look for better leverage on PSU in an outright win.
Over/Under
Look for Michigan rushing and an overall lack of explosive plays to give this game a lean on the Under. A breezy, Big Ten-weather grind looks prod the UNDER 48.5 (-107) into moderate-confidence play
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