Kent State at Penn State Week 4 College Football Matchup Kent State at Penn State Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 21 2024 · Week 4 · 🏟 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA · Turf · 106,572 cap
Kent State✈ 181 miSame TZ
0 56
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Kent State
8
Penn State
48
P&R Line Penn State -40.5
P&R Total O/U 56
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Penn State -49 · O/U 58.0
Matchup Prediction
Penn State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Penn State entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
Penn State wins
Solid
Game Control
76%
Penn State wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Penn State -49
O/U 58.0
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Penn State · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Penn State Coming off BYE 🚌 Kent State 2nd straight Road Game
Kent State 2024 Schedule
Kent State's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Kent State at Pittsburgh+23.5L24–5555.5L24–55ON
Sat 9/7Kent State vs St. Francis (PA)-17.5L17–2349.5L17–23UN
Sat 9/14Kent State at Tennessee+49.5L0–7161.5L0–71ON
Sat 9/21Kent State at Penn State+49.0L0–5658.0L0–56UN
Sat 9/28Kent State vs Eastern Michigan+14.0L33–5246.0L33–52ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/12Kent State vs Ball State+3.0L35–3758.0L35–37OY
Sat 10/19Kent State at Bowling Green+24.0L6–2754.5L6–27UY
Sat 10/26Kent State at Western Michigan+19.0L21–5261.0L21–52ON
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/6Kent State vs Ohio+20.5L0–4153.5L0–41UN
Wed 11/13Kent State at Miami (OH)+31.0L7–3447.5L7–34UY
Tue 11/19Kent State vs Akron+10.5L17–3849.0L17–38ON
Tue 11/26Kent State at Buffalo+23.5L7–4350.5L7–43UN
Penn State 2024 Schedule
Penn State's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Penn State at West Virginia-7.5W34–1248.0W34–12UY
Sat 9/7Penn State vs Bowling Green-35.5W34–2751.5W34–27ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/21Penn State vs Kent State-49.0W56–058.0W56–0UY
Sat 9/28Penn State vs Illinois-19.5W21–748.0W21–7UN
Sat 10/5Penn State vs UCLA-30.0W27–1148.0W27–11UN
Sat 10/12Penn State at USC-3.5W33–3051.5W33–30ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/26Penn State at Wisconsin-6.5W28–1347.0W28–13UY
Sat 11/2Penn State vs Ohio State+3.0L13–2047.5L13–20UN
Sat 11/9Penn State vs Washington-13.5W35–648.0W35–6UY
Sat 11/16Penn State at Purdue-30.0W49–1051.5W49–10OY
Sat 11/23Penn State at Minnesota-11.0W26–2545.0W26–25ON
Sat 11/30Penn State vs Maryland-26.5W44–750.5W44–7OY
Sat 12/7Penn State vs Oregon+3.5L37–4551.5L37–45ON
Sat 12/21Penn State vs SMU-9.0W38–1052.5W38–10UY
Tue 12/31Penn State vs Boise State-11.5W31–1454.5W31–14UY
Thu 1/9Penn State vs Notre Dame-1.5L24–2745.5L24–27ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2024 season
Penn State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Penn State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Kent State #131
+0.056
Penn State #11
+0.665
Penn State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Kent State #109
+0.241
Penn State #11
+0.820
Penn State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Kent State #127
0.123
Penn State #38
0.181
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Penn State Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Kent State #130
+6.103
Penn State #9
+9.031
Penn State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Kent State #134
+0.683
Penn State #4
+1.014
Penn State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Kent State #111
72.8
Penn State #73
71.1
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Penn State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2024 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Penn State Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Kent State
-16.7
Penn State
8.8
Offense Rating
Kent State
7.5
Penn State
19.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Kent State
24.2
Penn State
10.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Penn State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Kent State #134
0.00
Penn State #20
1.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #134
6.00
Penn State #5
1.00
Penn State +1.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Penn State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Kent State #1
5.5
Penn State #1
59.4
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #140
89.6
Penn State #14
21.5
Penn State +53.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Penn State
5 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Penn State
80.9 — 6.9 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Penn State won by 56
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Penn State with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Kent State
Kenni Burns #1
1–11 (8%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Mark Carney Yr 1 #1
DC David Duggan Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Penn State
James Franklin #1
88–39 (69%) · Yr 11 at school
OC Andy Kotelnicki Yr 1 #1
DC Tom Allen Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself