Penn State vs Villanova Prediction: Nittany Lions Need More Preparation For Oregon

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 8:40 PM ET

No, Penn State hasn't been bad.

No, it hasn't needed to put its foot on the gas against Nevada or Florida International, but it also hasn't been able to find a lot of consistency.

The passing game was great against Nevada, and blah against FIU. The running game rocked FIU, and the passing attack was a bit off.

But this is it. This is the last warm-up in this oh-so-light non-conference slate before the Big Ten opener in two weeks against Oregon.

Villnova is no pushover. It's a FCS playoff-caliber team with the upside to be at least as good as the Nittany Lions' first two opponents.

Penn State is 6-3-1 in the series, with the first win coming in 1902.

Penn State vs Villanova Preview: How Focused Will the Nittany Lions Be?

Penn State vs Villanova How To Watch

Saturday, September 13, 2025
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: FS1
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
@PeteFiutak

Why Villanova Will Win

The Wildcats have the stuff to hang around for a little while, especially on the lines.

The running game wasn’t great in the 24-17 win over Colgate, but it’s a good front in pass protection, there’s speed on defense, and the pass rush is just dangerous enough to be a bother.

Penn State hasn’t been tested yet in any way. Villanova might not have the talent or depth to pull this off, but if the defense can load up against the run and be decent, the corners should hold up. But …

Why Penn State Will Win

Colgate was able to throw a little too well on the Villanova secondary. The Wildcats have good defensive backs, but they’re about to be pushed.

Drew Allar and the passing game were fantastic in the opener, but the timing was a bit off against FIU. This is where they get it all back.

To say there’s any concern so far is an overstatement - the Nittany Lions have been good. The defense has been great, and that’s without dialing up the pressure with anything funky. That’s being saved for Oregon, but Villanova is about to be pressed.

Penn State Can’t Do Enough To Make Anyone Happy

You’d have thought the Nittany Lions lost to FIU after a sleepy 10-0 halftime lead. The team is obviously building up, the talent is tremendous, and it’ll show off in a good first half.

Villanova has FCS Playoff upside, but it’ll be a rough day dealing with a team with FBS National Championship ability.

Penn State vs Villanova Prediction, Betting Lines

Penn State 49, Villanova 7
Line: Penn State -48.5, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 1.5

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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