Penn State vs Northwestern Prediction, Picks & Odds | 02 Oct 2026
College Football Betting Preview: Penn State vs Northwestern
Penn State face Northwestern at Ryan Field, with kickoff scheduled for 20:00 on Friday, October 2.
For a value wager, head to the Moneyline where you can back Penn State to beat Northwestern. Our betting prediction is currently available at an attractive -132.
Penn State Nittany Lions were beaten 24-20 at Beaver Stadium in their previous game, being turned over at home to Wisconsin Badgers.
Northwestern Wildcats have landed back-to-back home victories. In their last game, it was a 29-23 road defeat against Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium.
Head-to-Head Statistics
These two teams last met at Beaver Stadium, with Northwestern claiming the win. Beating Penn State by a 22-21 scoreline. The previous 3 H2H meetings have involved Penn State winning two times.
Penn State vs Northwestern Prediction & Picks
Get the edge with our best Penn State vs Northwestern picks: a key match prediction, correct score recommendation and a ready-made bet builder. Explore each section below for detailed insights.
Game Prediction
Penn State should be able to outscore their opponents and our pick is to side with them on the Moneyline. There is a tempting -132 for them to win this college football showdown.
Our CFB predictions are built after tracking the latest team news and reviewing recent form. We also dive into stats, which often serve as a solid barometer for how the action might unfold.
Key Penn State vs Northwestern stats:
Penn State Moneyline Probability
The top sportsbooks imply that our pick has a 56.8% prospect of winning. However, we think that the probability sits between 60-65% taking all factors into consideration. It is the reason why we are recommending this college wager.
There’s the opportunity to back Penn State at bigger odds on the spread. The sportsbooks will create a series of lines and you can choose the one that makes appeal.
Why bet empty-handed? Check our up-to-date guide for the latest sign-up promos, welcome bonuses and betting offers.
Same Game Parlay Picks
Our same game parlay pick includes Penn State on the moneyline, Over 45.5 and the first score to be a Field Goal.
Many betting sites now allow you to place a same game parlay on each individual football game. It means that you can create a personalised wager at bigger odds, with there generally being no limit as to the number of picks.
Correct Score Prediction
31
-
21
Northwestern
We’re going for the Lions to win by a 31-21 scoreline, something which is available at massive odds. This speculative bet can provide a big return for a small stake.
Penn State vs Northwestern Odds
The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.
We’re seeing Northwestern priced up at +110 for a victory, with Penn State trading at -132. There is a 48% chance of the hosts winning according to the top sportsbooks.
2.5 is where the spread lies, with total points being 45.5 right now. There are many ways to wager on football including the Totals. Those expecting a low total can back Under 45.5 at -110.
There are a wide range of game lines and team props when it comes to most college football matchups and we recommend visiting the best betting apps to find the wager that matches your view on the game.
As an alternative to the game lines, check out the player prop bets that are available. It’s especially great if you have a view when it comes to First, Last or Anytime Touchdown Scorer, while there are lots of other player and quarterback options.
Micro betting is something that’s really popular with bettors, with college football fans essentially being able to wager in-game when it comes to score, player and team props. Sometimes these are two-way lines where you can bet on the Next Play or Next Drive.
Can Northwestern Stay Hot at Home?
Northwestern have secured three straight wins at Ryan Field. They own a 7-3 mark in their past 10 home games, averaging 23.20 points scored and 20.90 points allowed.
Penn State have notched four consecutive victories on the road. They own a 6-4 mark in their past 10 games away from home, averaging 28.60 points scored and 25.40 points allowed.
The last time the teams met at Ryan Field, Penn State defeated Northwestern 41-13.
| Last 10 Games | W-L | P | PF | PA | O45.5 | U45.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Northwestern Home Stats |
7-3 | 44.10 | 23.20 | 20.90 | 4 | 6 | |
 Penn State Away Stats |
6-4 | 54.00 | 28.60 | 25.40 | 6 | 4 | |
- W-L = Wins-Losses
- P = Avg. Points
- PF = Avg. Points For
- PA = Avg. Points Against
- O45.5 = Games Over 45.5 Points
- U45.5 = Games Under 45.5 Points
Latest regular season and playoff games stats.
Penn State Nittany Lions Stats
Northwestern Wildcats Stats
- 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games
- 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games on the road
- -2.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 7 of the last 10 games
- -2.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 5 of the last 10 games on the road
- +2.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 games
- +2.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 9 of the last 10 home games
- Game Totals: An average of 48.90 pts in the previous 10 games
- Game Totals on the Road: An average of 54.00 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
- Over 45.5: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games
- Over 45.5 on the Road: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games on the road
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 31.20 pts and allowed 17.70 pts in the last 10 games
- Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 28.60 pts and allowed 25.40 pts in the last 10 games on the road
- Game Totals: An average of 46.80 pts in the previous 10 games
- Game Totals at Home: An average of 45.60 pts in the previous 10 home games
- Over 45.5: Covered in 7 of the previous 10 games
- Over 45.5 at Home: Covered in 7 of the previous 10 home games
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 26.20 pts and allowed 20.60 pts in the last 10 games
- Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 30.30 pts and allowed 15.30 pts in the last 10 home games
| Big Ten | W | L | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UCLA
|
4 | 0 | 179 | 75 | 104 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 4W |
Indiana
|
4 | 0 | 174 | 39 | 135 | 4-0 | 0-0 | 4W |
Nebraska
|
4 | 0 | 170 | 48 | 122 | 3-0 | 1-0 | 4W |
Minnesota
|
3 | 1 | 140 | 76 | 64 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 2W |
Ohio State
|
3 | 1 | 180 | 49 | 131 | 3-0 | 0-1 | 2W |
Oregon
|
3 | 1 | 190 | 93 | 97 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 2W |
Iowa
|
4 | 0 | 131 | 32 | 99 | 3-0 | 1-0 | 4W |
Wisconsin
|
3 | 1 | 127 | 80 | 47 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 3W |
USC
|
4 | 1 | 199 | 132 | 67 | 3-1 | 1-0 | 1L |
Maryland
|
2 | 2 | 129 | 103 | 26 | 1-2 | 1-0 | 2L |
Purdue
|
1 | 3 | 128 | 158 | -30 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 3L |
Michigan State
|
2 | 2 | 88 | 85 | 3 | 2-1 | 0-1 | 2L |
|
Penn State
|
3 | 1 | 147 | 46 | 101 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 1L |
Illinois
|
2 | 2 | 136 | 106 | 30 | 2-1 | 0-1 | 1L |
|
Northwestern
|
2 | 1 | 98 | 54 | 44 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 1L |
Washington
|
3 | 1 | 112 | 67 | 45 | 3-1 | 0-0 | 1L |
Michigan
|
3 | 1 | 101 | 59 | 42 | 3-1 | 0-0 | 1L |
Rutgers
|
1 | 3 | 135 | 114 | 21 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 1W |
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