Nebraska vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
With their nine-game FBS losing streak behind them, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will try to make it two wins in a row when they travel to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Friday in Big Ten play.
Casey Thompson overcame a benching and a shoulder injury to account for three touchdowns as Nebraska beat Indiana 35-21 for their first win over an FBS team since downing Northwestern a year ago. The Cornhuskers gave interim head coach Mickey Joseph his first win since replacing the fired Scott Frost on Sept. 11.
The Scarlet Knights didn’t have much to celebrate following a 49-10 beating against Ohio State, but getting senior quarterback Noah Vedral back in a very limited role was one of them. Vedral, a Nebraska native and former Cornhuskers’ quarterback, started and ran the ball four times before being replaced.
“We’re going to work Noah back in,” head coach Greg Schiano told the media of Vedral, who sustained an upper-body injury in preseason workouts. “Noah’s not ready to do the full gamut right now. It’s going to be a slow process for him to get back into it. We’ll see how practice goes this week.”
Let’s check the latest NCAAF odds, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF lines for Nebraska vs Rutgers. We’ve plenty of Vegas NCAAF odds for you to consider.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The 21 points allowed to Indiana, who were without their top two receivers, are the fewest for the Cornhuskers since the 56-7 victory over Northwestern last season. Nebraska surrendered 33.7 points per game during the nine-game FBS losing streak. Garrett Nelson registered a pair of sacks and the Cornhuskers hurried the Indiana quarterback six times in the first game for interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch. Nebraska also defended eight passes, including two each by Quinton Newsome and Luke Reimer.
“We’re finally realizing what we are as a defense,” Nelson, who now has 9.5 career sacks, told the media. “Got to carry that over to the coming weeks.”
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
With Vedral still limited, it will be up to quarterback Evan Simon and running back Samuel Brown to help lead the Scarlet Knights to their first conference home win since 2017. Simon, a sophomore, won’t win many games against top competition with his arm but has shown he can get the job done as part of a team effort. He struggled in losses to Iowa and Ohio State, completing less than 60 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions, but that would likely be the case with any Rutgers quarterback.
Brown, a freshman from Philadelphia, is part of a trio of running backs along with Kyle Monangai and Al-Shadee Salaam. The group has rushed for 520 yards and six touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights.
“He’s a sponge,” Schiano told the media of Brown, who has averaged five yards per rush. “He’s physically gifted and feels very much in place. Now it’s a matter of how do we work the rotation and utilize every guy’s strengths because I do think they all have unique abilities.”
Nebraska vs Rutgers Injury Report
DBs Desmond Igbinosun, Robert Longerbeam and Shaquan Loyal, TE Victor Konopka, QB Gavin Wimsatt and RB Aaron Young are all questionable for Rutgers. Thompson is dealing with various ailments but is expected to play for Nebraska while tackle/guard Turner Corcoran could be facing a suspension for an ejection against Indiana.
Nebraska vs Rutgers Head-to-Head
The Cornhuskers are a perfect 5-0 against the Scarlet Knights, with four of the wins coming since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014. Nebraska has won both games played in Piscataway, including a 28-21 victory in the latest meeting of the teams in 2020.
Nebraska vs Rutgers Game Information
- Game: Nebraska vs Rutgers
- Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
- Day/Time: Friday, Oct. 7th, 7 p.m. ET
- Nebraska vs Rutgers Live Stream: ESPN
Nebraska vs Rutgers Betting Lines
Nebraska vs Rutgers Prediction
The college football lines have the Cornhuskers as a tepid three3-point favorite. That number seems a bit low given that the Scarlet Knights are 0-7 in their last seven games as a home underdog. Rutgers can win this game by pounding the ball against Nebraska’s 120th-rated rush defense, which has allowed 200 yards per game and 13 touchdowns.
The Rutgers’ defense is highly rated against both the run (18th) and the pass (28th), but was exposed in their last two games and Thompson and Anthony Grant, who ranks eighth in the nation with 120 rushing yards per game, will look to do so again
