Penn State heads to Evanston, Illinois, tonight to face Northwestern in a Big Ten matchup between two teams coming off losses, and betting analysts are pointing to the game’s point total as the more interesting angle than the spread.
Penn State enters at 3-1 after dropping its first Big Ten game of the season last week at home against Wisconsin, falling 24-20. The loss knocked the Nittany Lions out of the national rankings after they had been sitting at No. 13. Penn State made the College Football Playoff in 2024 and won its first-round game, but the program hasn’t posted a one-loss or better season since 2005, and since then it has finished Big Ten play at 7-1 or 8-1 only four times.
Northwestern comes into the game 2-1. The Wildcats opened the season with a 34-18 win over San Diego State, then routed Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes 41-7. Last week they stayed competitive on the road against Indiana before falling 29-23.
According to betting analysis from Fox News’ Outkick, Penn State likely holds a modest offensive edge, while Northwestern’s defense may be able to keep pace with the Nittany Lions without shutting them down completely. The analysis favors the game’s total points going over 45.5, predicting both offenses will find success on a short week of preparation.
