Below is our Penn State vs. Auburn betting preview and prediction. Peruse all the current betting specifics and secure your best fantasy plays with our top DFS and College Fantasy Football players to watch in this contest.
Penn State vs. Auburn betting preview
- Spread: Penn State -2
- Moneyline: Penn State (-140); Auburn (+120)
- Over/Under: 48 points
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
- Predicted weather at kick: 85 degrees, sunny, winds 5-6 mph
Two perennial powerhouses take part in a marquee SEC vs. Big Ten matchup as the Penn State Nittany Lions travel to take on the Auburn Tigers. Though this game seemingly lacks the luster of a Michigan vs. Alabama game or an Ohio State vs. Georgia matchup there are intriguing lines and battles to watch for in this game.
Top DFS picks and fantasy plays
Each of these programs is filled with talented young players that the devy and dynasty league crowds surely know about. Nicholas Singleton breaking out may have been a surprise to most last week, but those devy league owners absolutely knew it was just a matter of time before the Penn State running back exploded onto the scene.
As such, his value will be trending upwards, but is he an option to start against Auburn? First, we have to explore the DFS values for this game. Here are the current FanDuel values for the top players in the Penn State vs. Auburn matchup:
- QB Sean Clifford, Penn State: $8,600
- QB T.J. Finley, Auburn: $6,600
- RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State: $6,900
- RB Tank Bigsby, Auburn: $6,700
- RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn: $5,700
- RB Keyvone Lee, Penn State: $5,400
- WR Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State: $7,500
- WR Parker Washington, Penn State: $6,100
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State: $6,000
- WR Ja’Varrius Johnson, Auburn: $5,900
- WR Shedrick Jackson, Auburn: $5,500
- TE Brenton Strange, Penn State: $5,300
- TE John Samuel Shenker, Auburn: $5,100
It’s safe to say the DFS market has bought into Singleton as the better back in this outing, though it also has realistic expectations for the fabulous freshman. What makes Singleton an intriguing play here, however, is the fact that he created plenty of his yards on his own against Ohio. He didn’t just hit clear rushing lanes and open holes. Singleton utilized his speed and vision to break away from the mesh and intended point of attack, sprinting away from Bobcat defenders left and right.
Pump the brakes, though, as he certainly will not be able to do that against Auburn. He’ll have to maintain his intended point of attack, as he’ll certainly be hard-pressed to beat Auburn’s speed on defense if he were to break contain and try to get horizontal on them. Start him in CFF leagues, but be wary of his ability against a top-tier P5 defense in DFS.
Similarly, there should be no faith in Sean Clifford as a downfield passer at this point. With Nehemiah Pritchett leading a talented secondary for the Tigers, expect Clifford to struggle to find passing lanes in this one.
On the flip side, T.J. Finley has not been a world-beater at quarterback through two games. He’s rushed for a touchdown but hasn’t thrown for a score against FBS talent this season. Tank Bigsby is likely the only Auburn play from an offensive standpoint in this game.
Prediction for Penn State vs. Auburn
The distribution of talent may not lean towards the entertainment value for casual fans, but this is one of the most evenly-built matchups of the early portion of the season. Penn State’s offensive line is a strength, while Auburn’s defensive line often gives the Tigers the upper hand.
Both secondaries are incredibly talented, but, unlike Penn State, Auburn lacks a playmaker at the safety position. Keaton Ellis and Ji’Ayir Brown each have the chance to make game-changing plays with their abilities to come downhill. In a game where one mistake can make or break your team’s chances, Penn State has the advantage due to coaching and what equates to a half-a-point margin of talent.
Prediction: Penn State 27, Auburn 24
