Ryan’s new campus finally, finally finally makes its debut on Friday night as the home of the North Carolina Wildcats, and the most expensive college stadium ever built, certainly seemed to be worth the wait.
The $870 million stadium has a capacity of 35,000 – all protected from the weather by a canopy – 200,000 square feet of gardens and plazas and two 5,000 square foot video boards. It’s not a bad program with the biggest losses in college football history.
For their first game in their sparkling new home, the Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 in the Big Ten) will host Penn State (3-1, 0-1).
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Both teams are coming off their first losses of the season, but Northwestern feels much better about their loss than the Nittany Lions. The Wildcats were the reigning national champion and No. 5 Indiana was all they could handle in a 29-23 loss in Bloomington, Ind. Meanwhile, Penn State gave up two touchdowns to Wisconsin in the final four minutes and blew a 17-point lead in a 24-20 loss.
Despite this, the Nittany Lions are 2.5-point the spread of manufacturing Favorites over animals.
While Penn State vs. Northwestern is the marquee attraction on Friday, there are other sports betting options that include partial college schedules and five NHL games. Below is a snapshot of what to watch and bet on the best sports betting appson Friday, Oct. 2 All the times of the East.
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College football best bets, where to watch
Liberty at Delaware
Time: 7 p.m Location: Newark, Del TV: CBSSN | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Delaware +6.5
Since becoming an FBS program in 2025, the Blue Hens are a much different team at home than they were on the road. They are 7-1 at home and are averaging 35.5 points per game over 23.6. They are 1-7 on the road, scoring 20.7 points a game while coughing up 37.4. On Friday, the Flames faced a team that had lost just one game this season, but that defeat came on the road at James Madison. SportsLine’s projection model, which simulates every college football game 10,000 times, says Delaware has an 82% chance to cover and assigns the Blue Hens a “B” grade of +6.5.
Pitt at Virginia Tech
Time: 7 p.m Location: Blackburg, Va TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Virginia Tech -2.5 | Expert: Virginia Tech -2 (Mich Roberts)
Only 22 teams remain undefeated and two of those teams collide on Friday when the Hokies (4-0, 1-0 in the ACC) host the Panthers (4-0, 1-0). Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel has played at a competitive level this season. In two games against non-Power Four teams, he averaged 428 passing yards per game while throwing 13 touchdowns against no interceptions. In two games against the Power Four teams, he is averaging 167.5 yards passing and has zero touchdowns and one interception. The SportsLine Projection model says Virginia Tech has a 54% chance to cover and ‘C’ grade Virginia Tech the point of propagation line -2.5 Micah Roberts agrees. “The atmosphere was electric last night in Blacksburg,” he told SportsLine.
Penn State at Northwestern
Time: 8 p.m Location: Evanston, Ill TV: FOX | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Penn State -139
Could some of the money in New Ryan’s spending be diverted to upgrade the running back’s defense? Northwestern has thrived on the ground this season, giving up 199.3 yards per game, which is 128th in the country. The bad news against Penn State is that they average 183.5 yards rushing per game. The SportsLine Model projection says the Nittany Lions have a 65% chance to win and assigns a strong ‘A’ grade to Penn State Money line betting odds -139
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NHL best bets where to watch
Sauce at Red Wings
Time: 6:30 p.m Location: Detroit | TV: TNT/truTV | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Plus 5.5 | Expert: Red Wings -130 (Matt Severance)
Detroit, which owns the NHL’s longest playoff drought (10 times), opens its season on Friday against the Rangers. The Red Wings are well rested as they sit out their final preseason game on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Blue-shirts are now playing their second back-to-back after beating the Lightning on Thursday in New York. SportsLine’s Matt Severance notes that rookie Dylan Garand is likely to start in net on Friday for the Rangers. “He was very good last year but three starts and (that was) long removed from the Blueshirts,” Severance told SportsLine. Meanwhile, the SportsLine Projection Model says there is a 51.1% chance the teams will score six goals or more and grade B to Plus in By / under the bet line 5.5
The heads of the storms
Time: 7 p.m Location: Raleigh, NC | TV: ESPN+ | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Capitals +1.5 -205 | Expert: Turbine -143 (Matt Severance)
The reigning Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes will look to bounce back from a loss in the ring tonight when they host the Capitals. Despite losing to Florida 1-0, Carolina killed all seven penalties and allowed just one goal. Separate notes that Washington goaltender Logan Thompson wasn’t as good on the road (12-12) as he was at home (19-9) last season. In addition, “Alex Ovechkin is opening his final season with the Caps off an injury that affected him in the preseason,” Severance told SportsLine. The SportsLine Projection model is no different at all. He says Washington has a 66% chance to cover and assigns a ‘B’ grade to the Capitals puck line +1.5 (-205).