We’ve made it! Week 1 of the college football season is here! What better way to kick off the year than laying a hefty amount of points with arguably one of the best teams in college football?! Yep, you’re about to read why I like the Nittany Lions to put a beatdown on the Nevada Wolf Pack this weekend.
Before we get any further, check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks. Plus, you’ve still got some time to add more futures to your portfolio so be sure to check out our Power Four Conference Previews below.
Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Football Insights
Matchup Information – Nevada vs. Penn State – August 30
- Venue & Location: Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)
- Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: CBS/Paramount+
Nevada vs. Penn State Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of August 28, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Nevada +43 (-110)
- Penn State -43 (-110)
Moneyline
- Nevada N/A
- Penn State N/A
Total
- Over 56.5 (-105)
- Under 56.5 (-115)
Penn State enters its Week 1 matchup against Nevada as one of the biggest favorites on the entire opening weekend slate, opening at a massive -45.5 before early money trimmed the number slightly down to -43.5. That initial steam suggests bettors thought the spread was just a touch too inflated, but let’s be honest—whether this line closes at -43, -45, or even -50, it’s hard to make a case against James Franklin’s team laying the wood in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions aren’t just a top program; they’re currently ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and carry the kind of expectations that demand early-season blowouts. Nevada, meanwhile, is on the opposite end of the spectrum—nowhere near the national conversation and coming into Beaver Stadium as little more than a tune-up opponent.
The historical numbers back up the idea of a Penn State romp. Franklin guided the Lions to last year’s College Football Playoff, reaching the semifinals before bowing out to Notre Dame, and he has made a habit of sending a message in September. Penn State owns a gaudy 121-13-1 all-time record in home openers, and those wins haven’t just been close calls—they’ve been outright demolitions. The program has also never stumbled against Mountain West competition to start a season, holding a perfect 6-0 record in such matchups. Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Penn State and Nevada, but the trend is obvious: when the Lions kick off at home, opponents usually leave State College buried under an avalanche of points.
Nevada vs. Penn State NCAA Football Picks and Predictions
Best Bet: Penn State -43.5 (-110) BetOnline
Penn State’s offense—powered by Drew Allar and a backfield duo that’s arguably the best in the nation—is going to be dominant this season and represents a true mismatch against Nevada. Allar returns for his senior year after throwing for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also rushing for six more in 2024. Meanwhile, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen quietly combined for over 2,200 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, providing the kind of offensive volume few teams can slow down, let alone keep up with.
On defense, the Lions reloaded this offseason by hiring elite coordinator Jim Knowles—fresh off leading Ohio State to a National Championship and the nation’s top marks in both scoring and total defense—to bolster an already stout unit. With playmakers like Dani Dennis-Sutton, A.J. Harris, and Max Granville anchoring a disruptive front, Penn State’s defense isn’t just good—it’s dominant.
Nevada Welcomes New Faces
We can’t completely disrespect Nevada. The Wolf Pack has a pulse and should be gritty thanks to improvements expected in head coach Jeff Choate’s second year. Still, this is a team that went 3-10 last season with a defense that gave up 28.8 points per game, ranking near the bottom nationally.
To their credit, Nevada was competitive at times in 2024, dropping six one-score games and nearly upsetting Boise State. But their competition isn’t anywhere close to what they’ll face on Saturday in Happy Valley. After all, Penn State beat that same Boise State team in last year’s College Football Playoff, 31-14.
Sixth-year quarterback Chubba Purdy will command the Wolf Pack’s offense. The younger brother of 49ers QB Brock Purdy, he’s in his second season at Nevada after previous stops at Florida State and Nebraska. Returning running back Herschel Turner will take on a larger role this year, but the receiving corps features several new faces who will likely need time to build chemistry with Purdy. To make matters tougher, Nevada is replacing a majority of its offensive line.
The defense isn’t in much better shape. With only one starter returning from last year’s unit, this is a group in full rebuild mode, with plenty of unknowns and absolutely no margin for error in Beaver Stadium.
James Franklin Covers
There’s a theory among college football fans that James Franklin pays attention to the spread. Whether or not that’s true, what we do know is that he never lets his foot off the gas—even when the second and third stringers are in.
Covering -43.5 is a massive number, and I can understand the hesitation to lay it. That said, there are other ways to approach this game if the full-game spread feels too steep. Penn State jumping out to an early lead feels inevitable, which makes the first-half line of -27.5 intriguing. And because Franklin has no issue running up the score, Penn State to go over their team total of 49.5 points is also worth a look.
Still, everything points toward an ATS cover. The Nittany Lions’ rushing dominance, defensive upgrade under Knowles, depth, and overall talent advantage stack up against a Nevada squad in transition. For me, that’s more than enough. I’m backing Penn State -43.5 to open the 2025 season with a dominant win.
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