Northwestern vs. Penn State Prediction: Picks & Betting Odds – Wednesday, March 1, 2023

The Northwestern Wildcats (20-9, 11-7 Big Ten) are 4.5-point favorites as they attempt to continue a three-game home win streak when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (17-12, 8-10 Big Ten) on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The matchup airs at 9:00 PM ET on Big Ten Network. The point total in the matchup is set at 133.5.

Northwestern vs. Penn State Odds

Northwestern odds to win: -199
Penn State odds to win: +167
Spread: Northwestern (-4.5)
Total: 133.5

Northwestern vs. Penn State Promo Codes

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Game Time and Information

Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 9:00 PM ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Where: Evanston, Illinois
Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena

Who Will Win Northwestern vs. Penn State?

Northwestern and Penn State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games this season it was favored by 4.5 points or more, Northwestern has a 4-5 record against the spread.

Penn State is 2-3 against the spread when an underdog by 4.5 points or more this year.

These teams average a combined 140.7 points per game, 7.2 more points than the over/under of 133.5 set for this game.

Northwestern and Penn State have seen their opponents average a combined 2.7 fewer points per game than the over/under of 133.5 set for this game.

The average total Northwestern has had set in matchups this year is 3.1 fewer points than this outing’s point total.

The average over/under for Nittany Lions games this season is 7.7 more points than the point total of 133.5 in this outing.

The Wildcats’ ATS record is 18-11-0 this season.

The Nittany Lions have a 15-13-1 record against the spread this year.

Northwestern Stats & Insights

Northwestern has a +159 scoring differential, topping opponents by 5.5 points per game. It is putting up 67.9 points per game to rank 275th in college basketball and is allowing 62.4 per contest to rank 21st in college basketball.

Northwestern pulls down 31.7 rebounds per game (181st in college basketball) compared to the 31.7 of its opponents.

The Wildcats make 7.6 three-pointers per game (157th in college basketball) at a 32.0% rate (303rd in college basketball), compared to the 7.6 their opponents make while shooting 33.9% from deep.

Northwestern ranks 213th in college basketball by averaging 92.5 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 41st in college basketball, allowing 85.0 points per 100 possessions.

The Wildcats are averaging 68.4 points per game this season when playing at home, which is 1.5 fewer points than they’re averaging in away games (69.9).

Penn State Stats & Insights

Penn State’s +126 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 4.4 points per game) is a result of putting up 72.8 points per game (154th in college basketball) while giving up 68.4 per contest (129th in college basketball).

Penn State averages 29.8 rebounds per game (284th in college basketball) while conceding 32.8 per outing to opponents. It is outrebounded by 3.0 boards per game.

Penn State makes 10.7 three-pointers per game (fourth-most in college basketball) at a 38.8% rate (12th in college basketball), compared to the 7.4 per game its opponents make, at a 34.2% rate.

Penn State ranks 13th in college basketball averaging 102.0 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 302nd, allowing 95.9 points per 100 possessions.

At home the Nittany Lions are scoring 76.6 points per game, 8.2 more than they are averaging away (68.4).

Northwestern Key Players to Watch

Boo Buie leads the Wildcats in points and assists per game, scoring 17.2 points and distributing 4.5 assists.

Matthew Nicholson leads Northwestern in rebounding, pulling down 5.6 rebounds per game while also scoring 6.2 points a contest.

The Wildcats get the most three-point shooting production out of Chase Audige, who makes 2.1 threes per game.

The Northwestern steals leader is Audige, who averages 2.4 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Nicholson, who compiles 1.2 rejections per contest.

Penn State Key Players to Watch

Jalen Pickett leads the Nittany Lions scoring, rebounding and assists leaderboards, knotching 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.

Andrew Funk is consistent from deep and leads the Nittany Lions with 2.9 made threes per game.

Penn State’s leader in steals is Pickett with 0.9 per game, and its leader in blocks is Seth Lundy with 0.6 per game.