DraftKings is currently offering new customers $150 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager. Heading into Friday night, the SportsLine Projection Model — which runs each FBS game 10,000 times — is siding with the Over 45.5 in Penn State at Northwestern rather than a spread pick. SportsLine’s experts also have calls on two other matchups: Bob Konarski likes Pittsburgh (+3.5) to cover as road underdogs at Virginia Tech, and R.J. White has the Bills (-6.5) over the Patriots in an NFL pick for the weekend. The model enters Week 5 on a 32-24 stretch with its top college picks, and it reports a strong return for followers (nearly $600 on $100 players, per its results).
Friday’s highlighted picks
– Pittsburgh +3.5 at Virginia Tech
– Penn State vs. Northwestern: Over 45.5 total points
– Buffalo Bills -6.5 vs. New England Patriots
Put together as a three-leg parlay those selections would pay roughly +445 (risk $100 to win $445; odds can change). Links and prompts throughout the original piece direct new users to place a qualifying $5+ bet at DraftKings to receive the $150 in bonus bets.
Why each pick
– Pittsburgh (+3.5): Konarski calls this Pitt’s first real road test after an easier early schedule. He expects Pittsburgh’s defensive front to limit Virginia Tech’s rushing attack and believes Pitt’s offense is more capable of keeping the game close.
– Penn State vs. Northwestern — Over 45.5: Northwestern’s three games this season have all cleared at least 48 points, and both teams have scored 20+ in every outing; Penn State averages about 36.8 PPG and Northwestern about 32.7 PPG. The model forecasts the Over hitting in roughly 65.4% of simulations.
– Bills (-6.5) vs. Patriots: White notes both teams struggled in their most recent outings — Buffalo survived despite multiple turnovers, while New England was handled by Jacksonville — and he trusts Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense to build a lead that New England won’t overcome.
Responsible gaming
DraftKings offers a Responsible Gaming Center with tools to set deposit, wagering and time limits, plus 24/7 live-chat support and state/national helpline contacts. If you’re worried about gambling, the piece lists 1-800-MY-RESET as a resource.
Fan Take: Betting markets and projection models like SportsLine’s shape how fans view matchups and can amplify storylines (injuries, turnovers, rookie QB play) heading into a game. For NFL followers, a Bills favorite vs. Patriots line underscores expectations about Buffalo’s staying power and raises questions about New England’s offense that could influence perception and discussion all season.
Source: www.cbssports.com
