Best NCAAF Week 1 Picks & Bets: Will West Virginia Upset Penn State?

• Kirk Herbsreit called WVU vs. PSU a must-watch game 

• National Championship favorite Georgia faces Clemson to open the season 

Week 0 in college football surprised many people. The Florida State Seminoles were expected to roll through Georgia Tech in Ireland, but this didn’t occur. The Yellow Jackets took the fight to the Seminoles, leaving Dublin victorious.

There were four games in Week 0, and every underdog covered the spread. As we get into Week 1, this should balance out, but it shows that bookmakers can enter games blindly, too, especially in the first college games of the season.

NIL and the transfer portal have changed the college football landscape. On Saturday, we will test our luck on another underdog and see if the cover trend from Week 0 continues. 

We’re placing these wagers on bet365 Sportsbook. As a special offer, bet365 gives new users a $1,000 safety net bet or $150 in bonus bets. Claim your bonus by following our custom bet365 link, and don't forget to use promo code WSN365.

Penn State vs. West Virginia Odds on bet365

• Date: Saturday, August 31

• Time: Noon EST

• Moneyline: Penn State (-310) | West Virginia (+250)

• Spread: Penn State -8.5 (-110) | West Virginia +8.5 (-110)

• Total: Over 51.5 (-110) | Under 51.5 (-110)

Pick: West Virginia +10.5 (-110) at bet365

West Virginia and Penn State always make for a competitive matchup. The Nittany Lions enter the season with College Football Playoff dreams, and they have the team to make a deep run in the postseason. 

Ohio State and Michigan have been the Nittany Lions' kryptonite recently. The Buckeyes are a fantastic team again, but the Wolverines are expected to have a down year following their National Championship. If this turns out to be the case, James Franklin’s team could easily make the College Football Playoff. 

The Nittany Lions have a relatively easy schedule, but they start with a tough road test against West Virginia. When you view the odds on bet365, the Nittany Lions won’t have to try too hard to win this game. 

However, the 8.5-point spread doesn’t indicate how good West Virginia could be in 2024. They should be an underdog against the Nittany Lions, but the fact they’re getting 8.5 points in Huntington has caught our eye. 

Garrett Greene will be the catalyst for the Mountaineers. The 5’11” senior has much experience, especially against Penn State. Last season, the Mountaineers won nine games, including a victory in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. 

At the beginning of the season, one of their worst losses was to Penn State, 38-15. Greene ran the football exceptionally but didn’t get much going through the air. For West Virginia to win, they need to run the football effectively. 

While this may be tough against Penn State, West Virginia has a favorable matchup at home in Week 1 when new players will be tested. If the Mountaineers can control the clock, their improved defense should make this a tight game.

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Connecticut vs. Maryland Odds on bet365

• Date: Sunday, August 21

• Time: Noon EST

• Moneyline: Connecticut (+850) | Maryland (-1400)

• Spread: Connecticut +20.5 (-110) | Maryland -20.5 (-110)

• Total: Over 45.5 (-110) | Under 45.5 (-110)

Pick: Connecticut +20.5 at bet365

The Connecticut Huskies are coming off a disappointing three-win season, during which they took a massive step backward. The year prior, UConn had won six games in Jim Mora’s first season. 

UConn’s high hopes quickly plummeted when they started getting beaten by inferior opponents. It’s doubtful UConn will beat Maryland on Saturday because they’re not a deep team.

The Terrapins had to replace Taulia Tagovailoa as he graduated, so this is a chance for UConn to win on defense. The Terps still have big-play receivers all over the field, and they return their leading rusher, Roman Hemby. 

Hemby rushed for 680 yards on 142 carries last season with four touchdowns. UConn’s rush defense can be good, but the offense must win this game for the Huskies. 

If UConn can score 20+ points, they should have no issues covering in this game. Even if Connecticut reaches two touchdowns, they still have a solid chance of being within 20 points because Maryland’s offense should be down. 

Nick Evers will be the difference maker for Connecticut. Evers was at Oklahoma and Wisconsin and is finally settling into a starting role. 

The quarterback has a big arm and is athletic enough to move in the pocket. UConn is a massive wild card heading into the season. Many people are high on the Huskies, but it will take an elite performance from Evers. We believe the former four-star quarterback has what it takes to keep Saturday’s game close.

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