Penn State Football Predictions for 2024: Penn State Football Total Wins Picks, Best Bets & Games To Watch

Expert college football handicapper Ron Marmalefsky looks at Penn State Nittany Lions college football and its chances in 2024. Ron provides expert picks for betting on the Nittany Lions in 2024.

Ron also offers total win predictions for Penn State in 2024 (a great betting NCAAF betting future), areas to watch, favorability of schedule, and offers best bets tips on the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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Grab the GoldSheet 2024-2025 Betting Guide

In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

Penn State College Football 2024 Preview: What’s the Situation?

Penn State (PSU) went 10-3 (bowl loss), but beating top five teams just keeps eluding them.  They are on an eight-game losing streak vs. Ohio State/Michigan. 

The good news is that 10-2 would likely guarantee a berth into the expanded playoffs, something that would have been accomplished in five of the past seven non-Covid years.  There is no other goal for ’24. 
  

2024 Penn State NCAAF AREAS TO WATCH:

PSU has a loaded backfield, with an accurate QB and two outstanding RB’s.  Here’s the dilemma: Power Two teams going 10-2 usually retain their coaches.  The Nittany Lions made changes at all three coordinator spots, one by choice. 

Offensively, the coordinator comes from highly successful stints at Kansas and Buffalo.  Franklin wants to stretch the field more, and I’ll check to see if that leads to more turnovers.  PSU had a massive +18 turnover ratio in ’23. 

There will be some sort of regression.  They retain a solid TE and add a good WR from Ohio State.  The NFL took three PSU OL, all by round three.  That unit will clearly not be as good.  Tom Allen is the new defensive coordinator. 

He made his mark in that role before becoming the Head Coach at Indiana, but there may still be a slight drop from Manny Diaz.  Four players from this defense were drafted, with the DL hardest hit.  PSU had 49 sacks a year ago.  There will be regression on the defensive stat sheet, with the question being how much regression.  There are changes in the kicking game that will need to be monitored.   

Penn State Football 2024 Predicted Total Wins Prediction

 PSU was 20-0 in games not involving Michigan/Ohio State, but after writing this, ’24 feels less stable.  While still a top 15 team who can easily replace talent, PSU is clearly weaker along the OL, and the defensive coordinator change will likely result in some regression. 

Couple that with an unrepeatable turnover ratio and this looks closer to 9-3 as opposed to 10-2.  There’s nothing wrong with 9-3, but missing the playoffs under the new format won’t sit well with the faithful.  Clues are coming vs. Illinois, USC and Wisconsin, so stay tuned.      

Penn State vs WVU Week 0 Betting Preview – College Football Predictions

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2024 Penn State Football Schedule and Games to Watch

With so many changes, the game at West Virginia becomes tricky, despite the one-sided series history.  A good barometer is 9/28 hosting the Illini.  While a win is expected, this game carries a competitive feel to it. 

On 10/12 PSU heads to USC.  I’m worried about PSU’s pass D here, but will also precheck USC’s run defense and new PK.  I like the placement of the bye week, which enables them to reset before a tough next five games. 

They go to Wisconsin, host nemesis Ohio State, try to avoid any letdown the following week vs. Washington, and then have road games against Purdue (10-0 H/R win streak) and Minnesota (can be tricky).  PSU closes by hosting Maryland.  If out of the playoff picture, do they become vulnerable here?  

Penn State Nittany Lions 2024 Football Expert HANDICAPPING TIP

I’ll lean WV in the opener due to the staff changes, hope to back the Illini on 9/28, lean USC on 10/12, and maybe lean Washington 10/26 after PSU plays Ohio State. 

NOTE: PSU and James Franklin have a NASTY HABIT of “covering” spreads when games are out of hand, which shows absolutely no sportsmanship.  That will someday backfire when a player gets hurt.  

  

Grab the GoldSheet 2024-2025 Betting Guide

In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen CFB

WagerTalk’s live college football odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the run spreads, totals and betting percentages for all college football games.

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