This week’s college schedule is loaded with significant matchups. One of the biggest battles will kick off Saturday night when the No. 6-ranked Oregon Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) head to Happy Valley to face the No. 3-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten).
Oregon has had no problem dispatching its first four opponents, winning each game by 20 points or more. Those victories include beatdowns of Oklahoma State (69-3) and rival Oregon State (41-7).
Penn State has had similar success to start the 2025 campaign. The Nittany Lions have outscored their overmatched foes by a combined 132-17, although each victory has been over a non-Power 4 opponent.
Can the Nittany Lions live up to their lofty expectations this season? We’ll cover that and our three favorite player prop bets from Saturday’s epic showdown.
For the third straight year, expectations are high for Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. The senior has just 626 yards and four touchdowns in three games, but the Nittany Lions haven’t needed the 6-foot-5 player to carry their offense.
Oregon’s defensive front is loaded, and the Ducks will look to make Allar’s life uncomfortable. They did that in their 2024 Big Ten Championship game, and he finished with 226 yards on 51.3 percent passing, and the quarterback threw two interceptions in that outing.
Despite the added depth Penn State has at the wide receiver position this year, there’s no reason to believe things have changed significantly for Penn State or Allar; take the under on this player prop bet.
Oregon is relying on sophomore quarterback Dante Moore to power the Ducks’ offense. The signal-caller is doing a fantastic job of spreading the wealth as five different receivers have at least eight catches through four outings.
Moore’s top target in the young season is senior wide receiver Malik Benson. The 6-foot-1 athlete has 14 receptions for 201 yards and two scores. In each game, Benson has finished with at least 40 yards, including last week’s blowout against Oregon State. Expect him to continue this trend, surpassing the 34.5-yard player prop mark oddsmakers have set for him.
Senior Nicholas Singleton heads one of the best running back duos in the country. The athlete has 179 yards and five touchdowns on just 41 carries this season, and he’s also caught five passes for 44 yards out of the backfield.
His workload has been somewhat light due to his team’s overwhelmed competition. Against Villanova two weeks ago, he finished with 84 yards on 20 carries, numbers that aren’t exactly eye-popping. By sharing the backfield, it’s hard to believe this talented senior will have a big day against the Ducks, and bettors should take the under on this player prop.
I’m not from Missouri, but I certainly subscribe to the state’s nickname as the “Show-Me State.” Penn State has beaten three inferior opponents handily, as they should have.
Despite an attempt to bolster their schedule, Oregon is in the same boat. The Ducks’ best win is a 34-14 victory over Northwestern, a Big Ten foe that isn’t exactly competing for the conference championship in 2025.
That’s why I believe this contest will be a close, defense-oriented affair. Scoring more than 53 combined points will be a tall task for these two teams. While I like Oregon to cover its 3.5-point spread, savvy bettors will take the under.