One of the best matchups on the Week 3 college football schedule arrives in prime time and in front of what should be a raucous crowd in State College. The Penn State Nittany Lions host the Auburn Tigers in a battle of top-25 teams, and the non-conference showdown is the centerpiece of the evening slate. No. 10 Penn State is 2-0, including a road win over a ranked Wisconsin team. No. 22 Auburn is also unblemished at 2-0, dominating both Akron and Alabama State in non-conference action.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The latest Auburn vs. Penn State odds from Caesars Sportsbook list the Nittany Lions as five-point favorites. The over-under for total points is set at 52.5. Before making any Penn State vs. Auburn picks or college football predictions, make sure to check out what SportsLine's advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of over $3,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 3 of the 2021 season on a 67-50 run on all top-rated college football picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Auburn vs. Penn State and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Now, here are several Week 3 college football odds and betting trends for Penn State vs. Auburn:
- Auburn vs. Penn State spread: Penn State -5
- Auburn vs. Penn State over-under: 52.5 points
- Auburn vs. Penn State money line: PSU -200, AUB +170
- AUB: The Tigers are 7-6 against the spread in the last 13 games
- PSU: The Nittany Lions are 6-5 against the spread in the last 11 games
Why Auburn can cover
Plenty of attention can be paid to Auburn's offense, as the Tigers currently lead the nation in scoring (61 points per game) while producing off-the-charts efficiency numbers. The Tigers must score effectively to pull off a road win as underdogs, but Auburn's defense will also be key. The Tigers are tied for the nation's lead in scoring defense, giving up only 5.0 points per game, and Auburn leads the country in rushing defense.
The Tigers are yielding only 21.5 yards per game and 0.7 yards per carry to their opponents and, even when adjusting for competition, Auburn's top-tier mark in total defense (182 total yards allowed per game) is impressive. The Tigers perennially have staggering talent up front, and they are giving up only 5.7 yards per pass attempt and 160.5 yards per game through the air in 2021.
Why Penn State can cover
Penn State's defense has been lights-out this season. Opponents are averaging only 11.5 points per game against the Nittany Lions, with 3.1 yards per carry on the ground and only 5.0 yards per pass attempt. Penn State has also been opportunistic, producing four interceptions and yielding no touchdown passes. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix has been great this season, but he also has a history of inefficiency on the road. Though Nix has 15 touchdowns and one interception in his career at home, he has thrown more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9) in road games, all while completing fewer than 55 percent of passes.
On the offensive side, Penn State has strong skill position players and an experienced quarterback in Sean Clifford at the helm. The Nittany Lions are averaging 7.8 yards per pass attempt, and Clifford has more than 500 total yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in 2021. For his career, he has more than 5,200 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, and Clifford won't be bothered by an active Auburn front.
How to make Auburn vs. Penn State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, with neither team projected to have a leading rusher with more than 70 yards. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's Penn State vs. Auburn pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Auburn vs. Penn State? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Auburn vs. Penn State spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
