The college football season is finally here and there is a ton of action on tap this week as some of the biggest names in the sport finally take the field. In SBS’ first highlighted showdown of the week, West Virginia takes on Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium in a cross-conference clash. In the midwest, Big Ten conference rivals Purdue and Penn State lock horns on the home turf of the Boilermakers. This should be another exciting week of college football action with a ton of different matchups on tap.
In both of these battles, SBS will go over what to look for from each squad, who will pull out the victory and also some other thoughts about college football betting.
| NCAA Football Second Week Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh | Pitt -7 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Penn State vs. Purdue | Purdue +3 | +100 | +100 | +100 |
Team Spotlight: West Virginia
The Mountaineers are coming off a so-so year in 2021 that saw them make a bowl game, but finish with a record below .500. West Virginia is led by head coach Neal Brown in his fourth season at the helm and was picked by members of the Big 12 media to finish in eighth place in the conference. While the Mountaineers do have some work to do if they want to climb up the rankings, they have some talented players on the defensive side of the ball like defensive lineman Dante Stills and defensive back Charles Wood. In non-conference play last year, WVU went 2-1 with a stunning win over in-state rival No. 15 Virginia Tech at home, 27-21.
Team Spotlight: Pittsburgh
Pitt enters this season with big expectations and are currently ranked as the No. 17 team in the country. The Panthers had a tremendous season in 2021, going 11-3 and also winning the ACC Championship with a 45-21 over Wake Forest. However, Pitt lost stud quarterback Kenny Pickett to the NFL Draft and the neighboring Steelers this offseason so they will need some new firepower under center. First year offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. will be guiding the Pitt offensive attack which could also mean some new kinks in the game plan. Cignetti’s new toy on offense will be USC transfer Kedon Slovis who started as a true freshman for the Trojans back in 2019. Slovis has a lot to prove this year in Pittsburgh.
Prediction: While West Virginia certainly is a gritty squad, the Panthers just have too much talent and continuity under head coach Pat Narduzzi to lose in their home opener.
Team Spotlight: Penn State
One of college football’s most vaunted programs, Penn State enters this season under ninth-year head coach James Franklin. The Nittany Lions had a disappointing campaign last year, going 7-6, with a 4-5 record in Big Ten play. After a promising start to the season with a 5-0 record, including beating ranked foes Wisconsin and Auburn, Penn State came crashing down to earth with three straight mid-year losses. After being ranked as high as No. 4 in the AP poll, Franklin and his crew have some ground to make up in 2022 and regain their former glory.
Team Spotlight: Purdue
Our final team showcase, the Boilermakers had one of their better campaigns to date in 2021, thanks to the steady hand of head coach Jeff Brohm. Capping off the season with an overtime victory over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, Purdue was able to finish the season with an overall record of 9-4. The Boilermakers also return all their main coordinators from last season and were able to add seven new transfer players. After not playing conference rival Penn State in 2021, this will be the first matchup between the squads since 2019 when the Nittany Lions crushed the Boilermakers 35-7 at Beaver Stadium.
Prediction: Unlike their showdown in 2019, this will be a much closer battle in West Lafayette. Take the Boilermakers to score the upset here at home.
As you are wrapping up your homework on this week’s slate of college football games, make sure to also check out some other amazing resources from SBS. This first must-read page for football fans is our NCAAF betting sites guide which goes over a ton of great betting markets and news related to college football. In addition to that guide, SBS has your back when it comes to payment options with our payment methods breakdown. On this handy page you can find more info about the different withdrawal and deposit options available to you. Finally, for those wanting to get the most out of their bets (and who doesn’t), the SBS best bonus betting sites rundown is a must-read to maximize your bets.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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