The Yale Bulldogs (3-2) travel to take on the Penn Quakers (2-3) in Friday night Ivy League action. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen live on ESPNU.
While there's no betting line as of writing, Yale is projected as a short 2-point road favorite in the contest with a total projected at 56.5.
Both of these teams come in at 0-2 in league play, so this game becomes crucial with both teams looking to battle back into contention for an Ivy League title. The loser will be completely out of contention to win the “Crown of the Ancient Eight.”
Where does the betting value lie here? Let's take a look at my Yale vs. Penn predictions and college football picks for Friday, Oct. 25.
Yale vs Penn Prediction
- Yale vs. Penn Pick: Penn ML +100
My Yale-Penn best bet is on the Quakers to cover the spread. Find the best odds on our live NCAAF odds page.
Yale vs Penn Odds
| Yale Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 49.5 -110 / -110 | -120 |
| Penn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 49.5 -110 / -110 | +100 |
- Yale vs Penn Point Spread: Yale -1.5 (-110) · Penn +1.5 (-110)
- Yale vs Penn Total: Over/Under 49.5
- Yale vs Penn Moneyline: Yale -120 · Penn +100
Yale vs Penn Preview
Yale Bulldogs Betting Preview: Defense Needs to Step Up
Yale comes in after a nice home win last weekend over Lehigh. The Bulldog offense really shined in the first half with four long scoring drives en route to a 28-10 halftime lead.
That lead was extended in the third quarter after a long 57-yard touchdown run by Tre Peterson.
While Yale won this game handily, Lehigh moved the football consistently against the Bulldog defense. Yale was gashed on the ground again in this game, as the Mountain Hawks ran for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The Yale stop unit has played below expectation all season, and the poor play has already cost it a victory in a loss against Dartmouth.
Pennsylvania Quakers Betting Preview: Offense Looking to Bounce Back
Penn comes in 2-3 off another tough loss last week to Columbia.
The Quakers were in a close game in the second half but couldn't complete the comeback after two first-half turnovers spotted Columbia a 14-0 lead.
Veteran Penn quarterback Aidan Sayin threw for 241 yards with those two interceptions, but the defense stiffened in the second half by keeping the Lions out of the end zone.
Penn has had plenty of problems this season, but the most concerning unit has been the offense.
The Quakers were projected to have potentially the best offense in the Ivy League with a veteran quarterback, solid skill-position players and continuity on the offensive line.
But as this season has played out, I haven’t seen a more disappointing unit in the Ivy League than this Quaker offense. They could really use a game against the Yale defense to get their season back on track.
Yale vs Penn Pick & Prediction
I'm going to play Penn as a home underdog in this matchup.
Yale has been too inconsistent on defense this season to warrant being a road favorite in this battle between two desperate teams in need of a conference win.
Yale allows 435 yards and 33.4 points per game and has really struggled to stop the run. The Bulldog front seven has been pushed around by weaker foes, giving up 184 rushing yards per game while surrendering 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Yale has really struggled to create negative plays against its opponents this year as well, registering 20 tackles for loss and four sacks on the season.
Penn protects the quarterback well, giving up only six sacks this season on 164 dropbacks.
The Penn ground game will be paced by Malachi Hosley, who has 585 yards with a 5.9 yards-per-carry average.
Yale has also struggled to get teams off the field on third down this season while allowing 44% of third-down attempts to be converted. Penn has played its best football on third and fourth down this year, converting 45% of those third downs and 80% of fourth-down attempts.
Offensively, Yale comes in averaging 386 yards and 33 points per game. The Bulldogs have been consistent each week and have received decent quarterback play from both Grant Jordan and Brogan McCaughey while deploying a two-quarterback system.
They have combined to throw for 1,088 yards with a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Yale has been balanced on offense but certainly wants to establish the run to set up their passing game. This could be difficult against a Penn run defense that's only allowing 118 yards per game on the ground.
A real interesting matchup will be the Yale offense against Penn's red-zone defense. Penn has done well to limit teams to field goals in the red zone, allowing only 10 scores in 23 trips this year. That will be important because the Bulldogs have made a habit of cashing in with seven points while moving it inside the 20.
Both teams have a lot to play for here, but I trust the Yale defense least in this spot.
This is a great opportunity for Penn's offense to finally play up to preseason expectations. At home on a Friday night, the Quakers get their Ivy League season back on track.
Pick: Penn ML +100
Yale vs Penn Start Time, TV Channel, How to Watch
| Location: | Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date: | Friday, Oct. 25 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPNU |
Yale vs Penn Weather
