Penn State vs. Northwestern prediction favors Penn State to win in college football Week 5 [2026]

Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have re-simulated the result of Penn State vs. Northwestern, forming part of our college football predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives Penn State a 54.0% chance of defeating Northwestern. Our predicted final score has Penn State winning 24-23. According to our model, Northwestern (+3) has a 53.6% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 47 points has a 52.2% chance of going over.

Latest betting odds

We have researched the best college football odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Spread: Penn State -3 (-105) / Northwestern +3 (-114)
• Moneyline: Penn State -145, Northwestern +130
• Total: Over/Under 47 (-109/-110)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Spread: Northwestern +3 @ -114 via BetRivers
• Moneyline: Northwestern @ +130 via DraftKings
• Total: Over 47 @ -109 via BetRivers

According to our best college football bets, the top play to make on this game is Northwestern to win.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Game info & kickoff details

Friday's college football game between Northwestern and Penn State at Ryan Field is scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: Penn State vs. Northwestern
• Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Ryan Field

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Conclusion

We predict Penn State, with a 54.0% win probability, will likely beat Northwestern in Friday's college football matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary College Football prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.