Kent State Golden Flashes (0-3) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0)
September 21, 2024 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Penn State Nittany Lions -48.5 / Kent State Golden Flashes -48.5 ; Over/Under: +54
(Get latest betting odds)
The Kent State Golden Flashes and the Penn State Nittany Lions meet Saturday in college football action from Beaver Stadium. Here’s a Penn State vs Kent State prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Penn State vs Kent State pick.
Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Preview
The Flashes’ 2024 season started out on a sour note. Kent State faced Pittsburgh in their opener and would fall in a blowout 55-24. Though they’d face a more manageable opponent in St. Francis PA in game two, the Flashes still fell 23-17 to go to 0-2.
In their third outing versus Tennessee, the Golden Flashes took another loss, this time their worst yet. Kent State coughed up 37 points in the first quarter alone during a 71-0 blowout. QB Devin Kargman threw for 58 yards, and JD Sherrod led the rush on 56 yards off seven totes.
Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview
Over on the Penn State side, they didn’t have too many issues with West Virginia in their opener this year. The Nittany Lions came out on top in that one 34-12. QB Drew Allar finished with 216 yards and three scores, while Nick Singleton led the rush on 13 carries for 114 yards and a TD.
Penn State faced a much closer game against Bowling Green the next weekend but still won 34-27. The Lions had to come back from a 24-20 first-half deficit to get there. Allar threw for 204 yards and two scores. Tyler Warren led the receivers on 146 yards off eight catches.
Why the Penn State Nittany Lions will win
- Penn State has won each of its last 26 games against non-conference opponents at Beaver Stadium.
- Kent State has lost each of its last 23 road games in September.
- Kent State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven road games.
- Penn State has covered the spread in 14 of its last 16 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Kent State has lost the first half in each of its last eight road games against non-conference opponents.
- Penn State has won the first quarter in 12 of its last 13 games against non-conference opponents at Beaver Stadium.
Why the Kent State Golden Flashes will win
- The team ranked 10th in the AP Poll has lost four of its last five games.
- The team ranked 10th in the AP Poll has failed to cover the spread in 12 of its last 14 games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Penn State’s last four games against non-conference opponents at Beaver Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.
- Six of Kent State’s last seven road games have gone OVER the total points line.
Penn State vs Kent State Prediction
I’ll lean toward Penn State but I’m probably not touching it. The Nittany Lions didn’t play very well in their latest outing versus Bowling Green, but hopefully, they’ll iron things out with the extra week of preparation. Penn State posted 438 total yards in that one (204 passing) but went just 2-of-9 on third-down tries.
As for Kent State, last weekend they had absolutely no shot against Tennessee. The Flashes gave up a whopping 740 yards (456 rushing) and 32 first downs in the mismatch. This weekend’s game likely won’t be such a blowout but it’ll be a severe uphill battle all the same.
