No. 22 Auburn takes on No. 10 Penn State on Saturday in a “Whiteout” at Beaver Stadium.
Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on ABC.
Auburn (2-0) is playing a Big Ten opponent on the road for the first time since 1931, and this is just the third time a ranked SEC team is visiting a Big Ten opponent. The Tigers are off to a quick start with first-year coach Bryan Harsin. Quarterback Bo Nix and running back Tank Bigsby have formed a dynamic backfield, and this is the biggest test before SEC play.
BENDER: Week 3 picks against the spread | Week 2 Takeaways
Penn State (2-0) can also score a clutch non-conference victory. The Nittany Lions have flashed an improved defense, and veteran quarterback Sean Clifford and SN Preseason All-American Jahan Doston lead an offense that scores 30 points per game.
It's an excellent spotlight for two fringe CFP contenders. With that in mind, Sporting News looks at the betting trends for the matchup between the Tigers and Nittany Lions:
Auburn vs. Penn State odds
- Spread: Penn State -6.5
- Over/under: 52.5
- Moneyline: Penn State -235, Auburn +186
Three trends to know
— Auburn is 11-2 S/U in non-conference games since 2018, but that includes a 1-5 S/U record as the road underdog.
— Penn State is 17-9-1 ATS in non-conference games under James Franklin. The Nittany Lions are 22-5 S/U in those games.
— Penn State has lost five straight games against SEC opponents, a streak that dates back to 2010. Auburn is 2-3 against Big Ten opponents since 2010.
Three things to watch
— Bo Nix's efficiency. Nix has been brilliant through two games against inferior competition. He's completed 29 of 39 passes, a 74.3 completion percentage that must translate on the road. It's a huge improvement from the last two years, when Nix hit less than 60 percent of his passes. The two-headed running game of Jarquez Hunter (257 yards, 2 TDs) and Bigsby (241 yards, 2 TDs) will be tested. This will test a Penn State defense that allows just 2.9 yards per carry. Linebacker Brandon Smith has been at the front of that defense with 15 tackles.
— Sean Clifford vs. pressure. Auburn has totaled nine sacks through two games with new defensive coordinator Derek Mason. T.D. Moultry and Marquis Burks have combined for 4.5 sacks in those games from the defensive line, and it's on Clifford to evade that pressure and find Dotson and Parker Washington, who each have 10 receptions through two games. Penn State will take a handful of deep shots with new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.
— How will Bryan Harsin adjust? Harsin's hire was met with trepidation, but the Tigers average 60 points per game. This is a different challenge. Auburn is 5-8 S/U in road games since 2018, and that includes a 1-6 S/U record on the road against ranked teams. This would be an early signature victory for the new coach.
Stat that matters
How much of a difference does the “Whiteout” make? It is one of college football's best spectacles, but it has produced an 8-8 record for the Nittany Lions . The last “Whiteouts” have been against Ohio State or Michigan, and the only SEC team to play in one was Alabama in 2011. The Crimson Tide won that game 27-11. Auburn is no stranger to hostile environments in the SEC West, but this is a new experience.
Auburn vs. Penn State prediction
Penn State should be able to feed off that energy and build a lead, especially if the running game works with a three-headed attack that includes Noah Cain, Devyn Ford and Keyvonne Lee. The Nittany Lions will lead at halftime, but Nix will lead a second-half rally that gives the Tigers a chance to tie late. Penn State came up with two interceptions late to seal a win against Wisconsin in Week 1. Will standout safety Jaquan Brisker come up with the big play again?
Final score: Penn State 31, Auburn 24
