Penn State vs. Marshall Pick and Prediction for Week One

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It's a Nittany Lions' Gameday and the Matt Campbell era is officially underway in Happy Valley. 

It is at this moment that the Nittany Lions faithful have so much to be excited about regarding the future of the program, and a good start today would go a long way toward keeping spirits up. The flip side of the coin is also true: if it doesn't go well on Saturday, the doubt will start to creep in.

Those answers will come later in the day, but for Vegas, the Nittany Lions are big-time favorites. The gameday line for Penn State and Marshall is 24.5 points in favor of the Nittany Lions.

It's a big line for a team that no one really knows anything about. Penn State is a completely patchwork team at this moment, with a totally new regime taking their first steps in the biggest opportunity that it has had in their careers. 

Penn State is the most popular pick today for a team on upset alert on Saturday, and it is absolutely on the table. Thursday night in college football showed that no one is safe and that everyone is on upset alert, no matter the opponent.

In Matt Campbell's first year as the head coach of the program, the Nittany Lions have a real opportunity to make a run at the College Football Playoff thanks to the schedule that they have this season.

Their opening three games are set up for them to cruise to a 3-0 record with wins over Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo. None of those games will be easy, but they should be able to handle them.

Then, they got the most favorable Big Ten schedule in the entire conference, and it starts with two winnable games against Northwestern and Wisconsin. 

Those two games set up the White Out game against the USC Trojans, which starts a stretch where they need at least one win. The three hardest games on their schedule come in four weeks. The home bout against the Trojans, followed by two road games against Michigan and Washington, is a stretch where they need at least one win. If they get two, they are in the driver's seat. If they get three, look out, the Nittany Lions will be contending for the Big Ten Championship.

The finish to the season is very manageable, and Penn State will have the chance to put together a really good regular season.

It all begins on Saturday against Marshall. I have no idea what the game is going to look like or how Penn State is going to play. The final prediction is a Penn State win, 31-14, and the Matt Campbell era gets started with a victory.

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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