Originally, the Texas A&M Aggies were supposed to provide the Jacksonville opposition for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Gator Bowl. However, an COVID outbreak among the Aggies forced bowl organizers to replace A&M with the 5-7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Understandably, the college football odds expect Wake Forest to roll by multiple touchdowns.
- Game: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-7) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-3)
- Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
- Day/Time: Friday, December 31, 11:00 a.m. ET
- Television: ESPN
Rutgers vs. Wake Forest
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | +15 (-110) | +475 | o62 (-110) |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | -15 (-110) | -650 | u62 (-110) |
Rutgers? Huh?
Last Game
It’s not especially common for a team that suffered through a four-game, mid-season losing streak and went 2-7 in conference play to make a bowl game, let alone one of the stature of the Gator Bowl.
That Rutgers is here sort of epitomizes college football in 2021. It wasn’t a normal season by any means and Rutgers is the beneficiary. The Scarlet Knights closed out their regular season with a 40-16 beatdown at the hands of Maryland, which by all rights should have ended their football participation for last and this semester,
So, it’s certainly both accomplishment and oddity for the Knights to be involved in post-season play, even under the unconventional circumstances required for them to get a bowl invite.
Rutgers certainly played a tough Big Ten schedule, but it’s not as if the Scarlet Knights’ losses were nail-biters. The went 1-1 in one-possession games, competed well against Michigan in an early-season 20-13 loss, then barely winning against Illinois. However, most of their games were blowouts, usually in the wrong direction. They did go 6-6 against the college football spreads, though, and the over went 5-7 in Rutgers’ games.
Injury Report
The Scarlet Knights, reported no significant injuries but there may be some absences before kickoff. Coach Greg Schiano hasn’t said which of his draft-eligible players are opting out of the game, so keep an eye on that if you’re betting online.
Three Players to Watch
Rutgers has used multiple quarterbacks this season, but Noah Vedral is the starter and should get the majority of the snaps. His passing numbers are pretty pedestrian (1,737 yards on 59.5% completion percentage, seven touchdowns and six interceptions), yet he is mobile (267 rushing yards) and athletic. He can be effective when if/when gets out of the pocket.
If senior wide receiver Bo Melton doesn’t not play in preparation for the NFL draft, Shameen Jones might be Vedral’s top target. Jones only posted 329 receiving yards this season, but had a few big performances in conference play.
With running back Isaih Pacheco also likely out after draft declaration, the starting backfield duties should fall to Kyle Monangai (235 rushing yards and four touchdowns). He wasn’t used much this season, although he did have a big game against Illinois.
Wake Forest Can Light It Up Offensively
Last Game
As disappointing as most of Rutgers’ season was, the opposite was true for Wake Forest. Though the Demon Deacons ended the season with a frustrating 45-21 loss to Pittsburgh in the ACC Championship, they were one of college football’s pleasant surprises.
Getting the Gator Bowl exposure is a big accomplishment for the Deacons, even if their sights were set higher after an 8-0 start to the season. That excitement might be dampened by playing a sub-par Rutgers team, but these things happen
Wake Forest only went 6-7 against the spread this season and also 6-7 ‘against the over’, this despite having a top-five scoring offense.
Injury Report
The Demon Deacons should have most, if not all, of their key players available for this game.
Three Players to Watch
The straw that stirs the Wake Forest drink is quarterback Sam Hartman. Hartman threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 36 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, leading the Demon Deacons to over 40 points a game, fifth-best in FBS. Hartman also runs, notching 343 yards and 11 scores on the ground.
Wake has a handful of reliable running backs, but Christian Beal is probably the best. He led the Demon Deacons in rushing (581 yards, seven touchdowns), even as his productivity and usage dipped as the season went along.
At wide receiver, the two-headed monster of A.T. Perry (1,166 receiving yards, 14 TD’s) and Jaquarii Roberson (1,078 yards, eight TD’s) won;t be in force for the Gator Bowl. Roberson is entering the NFL Draft and skipping the game. Perry should still have a huge game against a mediocre Scarlet Knights’ defense.
Betting on the Game
As the spread on the BetUS Sportsbook indicates, sometimes there’s no need to overthink a bet. Wake Forest isn’t missing that many weapons for Rutgers to have any sort of chance to win or, frankly, even cover
The Scarlet Knights actually opened as only 13½-point underdogs, but the spread has moved sharply in Wake’s favor since and could continue moving in that direction. The Demon Deacons and their elite offense-even without Roberson-are probably just be too much for Rutgers to overcome. Also, if Rutgers faces an early deficit, it won’t be easy for their 113th (out of 130 FBS teams) ranked offense to spark a comeback.
For that reason, the Scarlet Knights as only +475 underdogs on the moneyline aren’t that enticing to throw a bet on them. Maybe they’ll be able to cover a two-touchdown spread, but the moneyline value isn’t there.
As for the point total, the number is really high. However, with the Wake Forest can score and how quickly the Demon Deacons can do it, take the under at your own peril.
