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Penn State vs. Wisconsin prediction, odds, spread, line, over/under & betting info for NCAA Week 1

By Cody Williams

Dec 12, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Penn State Nittany Lions face the Wisconsin Badgers to kick off the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4 and we have all the information you need.

Things couldn’t have gone worse for the Penn State Nittany Lions to start last season but it’s a credit to James Franklin that the team rebounded and rallied to negate a five-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak to end the year. They will hope to carry that momentum into the 2021 season-opener against the Wisconsin Badgers on the road at Camp Randall Stadium.

Sean Clifford is back at the helm of the Penn State offense and fans will be looking for more. He’s made splash plays but consistency, especially as a thrower, has been lacking. With weapons like Jahan Dotson, the key is for him to be a steadier presence in the passing game. As for the defense, the front seven is somewhat young but is buoyed by a quality and well-seasoned secondary.

Wisconsin is no slouch, though, even if it is a different Badgers team. Their defense is going to be strong but the offense will have a different look with a questionable run game and the hope that Graham Mertz can provide a spark to the passing game that, frankly, we haven’t seen in Madison for quite some time.

Let’s take a look at the odds, make some predictions and break down everything fans need to know for the Penn State Nittany Lions season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Penn State vs. Wisconsin odds Week 1

  • Point Spread: Wisconsin -5.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Wisconsin -225, Penn State +180
  • Over/Under Total: 50.0 (-110 each side)
  • Odds via WynnBet

Given that Wisconsin is at home for this game, it goes to show how evenly matched these teams are if you give the presumed 3-point cushion to the home team. That means that, on a neutral field, oddsmakers believe that less than a field goal separates the Badgers and Nittany Lions.

Having said that, the under is always the safe play in a Big Ten opener, especially two teams with more questions on offense than on defense. As for which side of the spread to play, my lean is towards Penn State +5.5 as a talented front seven should be galvanized and force a relatively unproven quarterback to try and attack a good, experienced secondary.

Penn State injury report vs. Wisconsin Week 1

As of right now, Penn State seems to be in a good position health-wise as there aren’t many injuries to speak coming into the season-opener.

Penn State vs. Wisconsin prediction Week 1

There are going to be some rough stretches in this game, not because these two teams are untalented but, rather, because the defenses are that talented and good. Sean Clifford has defined his ceiling at this point but Penn State can run the ball to control the clock and game. That puts a lot of onus on Mertz and Wisconsin, but I’m giving the Nittany Lions a big-time conference win to jumpstart a bounce-back year for the program. Final Score: Penn State 23, Wisconsin 21

Download the WynnBET App and make your pick here

Penn State next game and schedule

  • Sept. 11 – vs. Ball State
  • Sept. 18 – vs. Auburn
  • Sept. 25 – vs. Villanova
  • Oct. 2 – vs. Indiana
  • Oct. 9 – at Iowa
  • Oct. 23 – vs. Illinois
  • Oct. 30 – at Ohio State
  • Nov. 6 – at Maryland
  • Nov. 13 – vs. Michigan
  • Nov. 20 – vs. Rutgers
  • Nov. 27 – at Michigan State

Ball State next week doesn’t present a terrible challenge for the Nittany Lions but they are a good enough Group of 5 program that James Franklin’s team can’t just look past them. They’re in danger of that with a huge matchup against Auburn looming in Week 3.

What channel is the Penn State game vs. Wisconsin on Week 1?

Saturday’s game in Norman will be broadcast as the national contest on FOX in the Noon ET slate. It should be available on all FOX affiliates throughout the United States as the premier Big Ten contest of the week.

Penn State vs. Wisconsin live stream

Date: Saturday, Sept. 4
Kickoff Time: Noon ET
TV Channel: FOX
Live Stream: FuboTV, FOX Sports

Fans can watch Oklahoma take on Tulane via a subscription to FuboTV, which is available to sign up for with a 7-day free trial for new customers. This matchup can also be streamed on FOX Sports or the FOX Sports app by logging in with a valid cable or satellite subscription.

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