2018 Week 1 College Football Picks & Predictions – Appalachian St @ Penn St Odds & Free Pick 9/1/18

2018 Week 1 College Football Picks & Predictions – Appalachian St @ Penn St Odds & Free Pick 9/1/18: The Appalachian State Mountaineers will travel to Happy Valley to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 3:30 PM EST on Saturday, September 1st to kick off the 2018 College Football season for both programs. The odds makers at Bovada Sportsbook have installed Penn State as a huge -23 point favorite with the betting total listed at over/under 54 points. Let’s take a closer look at this week 1 College Football betting matchup and release one of our free college football picks for week 1 to bet on.

2018 Week 1 College Football Picks & Predictions – Appalachian St @ Penn St Odds & Free Pick 9/1/18

Game: Appalachian State @ Penn State
Line: Penn St -23 at Bovada Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 54
Where: Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Date: Saturday, September 1st, 2018

The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off of an 11-2 season last year that saw them finish 6-2 in the Big Ten. Penn State head coach James Franklin had his team finish strong by winning it’s final four games including an impressive 35-28 win over Washington in the Fiesta Bowl. Franklin welcomes back just 10 starters from last year’s squad but does have 8 starters back offensively including senior quarterback Trace McSorley.

The offense finished 2nd in the Big Ten and 7th nationally in scoring last season by posting 41.1 points per game. The offense did lose it’s most talented player in running back Saquon Barkley to the NFL Draft but the unit is in good hands with the senior leadership of McSorley. McSorley threw for 3570 yards and 28 touchdowns last year while also rushing for 491 yards and 11 touchdowns. McSorley is a dual threat and has top target Juwan Johnson back in the fold to help him keep the chains moving. The junior wideout caught 54 balls for 701 yards last season.

Defensively, the Nittany Lions should see a drop off from last year’s unit that finished 2nd in the Big Ten and 6th nationally in scoring defense by allowing just 16.5 points per game. The unit returns just two starters and could take some time to gel into a cohesive unit so don’t be surprised if Penn State struggles some defensively early in the season.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers are a talented mid-major program out of the Sun Belt that has earned a reputation for giving power 5 teams all they can handle when they take them on early in the season. The Mountaineers are coming off of a 9-4 season last year that saw them go 7-1 in the Sun Belt and they have 9 starters back for head coach Scott Satterfield.

Appalachian State was a solid 30th in the nation in scoring offense at 33.5 points per game and 21st in the nation in scoring defense last year by allowing just 20.2 points per game. The offense should once again be a solid unit with the return of it’s best player in senior running back Jalin Moore. Moore rushed for 1037 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and should be a 1st team All Sun Belt performer this season.

Appalachian State @ Penn State Free Pick and Score Prediction: Appalachian State to cover as a +23 point underdog.

Bet on week 1 College Football action at Bovada Sportsbook