Penn State-Washington predictions: How computer data systems, college football experts, see the game

STATE COLLEGE — No. 6 Penn State (7-1) and Washington (5-4) meet in the Lions’ annual White Out game tonight at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Peacock will exclusively stream the game. The spread is down to PSU -12.5 at FanDuel and -13 on DraftKings. The total is 45.5 and 46.5 points, respectively. Who will win and who will cover?

Our weekly picks roundup gives you one final, comprehensive look at what data systems and experts believe before kickoff. And, as always, be sure to check your sportsbook of choice for any line changes, and remember to play responsibly!

Computer model picks for Penn State-Washington

ESPN Bill Connelly’s SP+ model predicts a 32-16 win for the Lions. That would equal a Penn State cover while the over hits.

Sportsline sees a 35-16 win for the Lions. That’s a pick for a PSU cover and th over.

The Athletic’s XMOV model from Austin Mock predicts a 30-17 PSU win. That’s another pick for a Lions cover and the over.

Finally, The Dunkel Index projects a 22.5-point Lions win. It likes the under, too, as it predicts 42 total points scored.

Lions-Huskies picks from a national perspective

Bill Bender of The Sporting News has projects a Penn State win and cover by a 31-17 margin. That’s another pick for the over, as well.

“Will the Nittany Lions have an emotional letdown after the loss to Ohio State? We’re not counting on it,” Bender writes. “The last three years Penn State has won their game the week after losing to the Buckeyes by an average of 17 points per game. Washington is 0-3 S/U on the road in Big Ten play, and the Huskies’ offense will have trouble in the “Whiteout” environment. Look for a bounce-back from Drew Allar and the Penn State running game, which will take over in the second half.”

At Bleacher Report, David Kenyon calls for a PSU win but a Huskies cover.

“Back across the country, one final time,” he writes. “Unfortunately for UW, the long trips haven’t gone as hoped in 2024. Washington has already fallen at Rutgers, Iowa and Indiana, and Penn State is the best of the bunch. At least it’s not a noon ET kickoff for the visitors?”

Beat writer predictions for Penn State-Washington

At PennLive, it’s four-man picks crew unanimously picks Penn State to win but is split on who will cover.

“We’ve seen this story too many times,” Max Ralph writes in predicting a 38-17 triumph for the home team. “Penn State loses the big one, worries about letting it snowball start to come about and then James Franklin leads a red-hot march to the finish line with domianation against lower competition left and right. Don’t get me wrong, Washington is a solid Big Ten team and has put out impressive performances. But this Penn State team was good enough to beat Ohio State and gets a White Out atmosphere behind it. Blowout incoming.”

Over at Sports Illustrated, Mark Wogenrich calls for a 31-17 PSU victory.

“Franklin’s record after the season’s first loss used to be a meme,” he writes. “It really centers on 2017, when the Nittany Lions lost to Michigan State on the road after Ohio State, and 2018, when the Nittany Lions lost to Michigan State at home after Ohio State. There’s also 2021, when the Nittany Lions lost to Illinois after Iowa and before Ohio State. But the past two seasons, Penn State has won twice after its first loss to untangle that knot. Outlier performances can happen, particularly if the Nittany Lions bring any Buckeye residue to Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. Which they probably will for a while before taking control in the second half.”

Seth Engle has it 28-13 Penn State at Statecollege.com. Frank Bodani picks it 24-13 in favor of the Lions for the York Daily Record. And Jon Sauber of the Centre Daily Times calls for a 31-14 PSU win.

How the BWI staff picked Lions-Huskies

Nate Bauer: PSU: 27, Washington: 13
Sean Fitz: PSU: 27, Washington: 16
Thomas Frank Carr: PSU: 35, Washington: 17
Matt Herb: PSU: 27, Washington: 17
Greg Pickel: PSU: 31, Washington: 10
Ryan Snyder: PSU: 30, Washington: 13