Penn State vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Postseason Positioning on The Line
The No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions will be searching for their fifth consecutive cover against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday afternoon. With two weeks left in the regular season, Rutgers (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) needs two wins to become bowl eligible. Penn State (8-2, 5-2) is in a prime position to appear in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Will Rutgers snap its three-game losing streak, or will the Nittany Lions grab their third straight win?
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports and college football lines for Penn State vs Rutgers. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
Penn State Rides Play-Making Defense
Outside of losses to No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, Penn State has steamrolled its competition. The Nittany Lions have won three of their last four games by 28 or more points.
In the last two games, Penn State has started fast with first-quarter touchdowns. Meanwhile, Rutgers has fallen behind 7-0 in the first quarter of two consecutive games. A prop bet on the Nittany Lions to score first is promising.
The Nittany Lions have forced four turnovers over the last two games. Starting cornerback Kalen King ranks sixth with 13 pass breakups (PBUs). His running mate, Joey Porter Jr., is not far behind with eight PBUs. Penn State’s defense has a nose for the ball, ranking 26th in takeaways per game. A defensive touchdown prop is enticing against Rutgers, who ranks 86th in giveaways per game.
Rutgers Labors Against Ranked Opponents
Rutgers is in a must-win situation to keep its bowl aspirations alive. However, defeating Penn State is a tall task. The Scarlet Knights have not beaten the Nittany Lions since 1988 and failed to cover in last season’s 28-0 loss.
Furthermore, Rutgers holds college football’s longest losing streak against ranked opponents. The Scarlet Knights’ last top-25 win came against No. 23 South Florida in 2009 (31-0).
In their last three home games, the Scarlet Knights are 2-1 ATS. However, their last home game was against No. 3 Michigan, which they failed to cover with a 52-17 loss. How can Rutgers finally compete with a Big Ten power?
The offense was encouraging in last week’s 27-21 loss to Michigan State. Rutgers totaled 460 yards as starting quarterback Gavin Wimsatt was solid and running back Kyle Monangai had 162 rushing yards. Before Michigan State, the Scarlet Knights were shut out against Minnesota and had only 180 yards against Michigan. Rutgers must take care of the ball and have a successful run game.
Penn State vs Rutgers Game Injuries
Penn State vs Rutgers Head-to-Head
Penn State is 30-2 against Rutgers and has won 15 consecutive games. Rutgers managed to keep it close in its last two home games against the Nittany Lions, losing 23-7 in 2020 and 20-7 in 2018.
Penn State vs Rutgers Game Information
- Game: Penn State vs Rutgers
- Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Penn State vs Rutgers Live Stream: ESPN
Penn State vs Rutgers Betting Lines
Penn State vs Rutgers Prediction
Penn State has played well on the road with a 3-1 ATS record. Plus, the Nittany Lions have a huge advantage in the run game. PSU has run for over 175 rushing yards in back-to-back games, while Rutgers allowed over 195 rushing yards in the last two. Also, don’t forget about Penn State’s advantage in the turnover department. The Nittany Lions will cover their fifth straight game with a convincing win.
The projected total seems low, making the over likely. Penn State is averaging over 35 points in the last four, and the Scarlet Knights rank 68th in scoring defense. Also, Rutgers QB Wimsatt has progressed each week since being named the starter. He should have some success. Take the over.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are listed at -1200 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Penn State, you have a chance to win $8. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are +750, offering a chance to win $750 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Penn State Nittany Lions a 92.31% chance to win, with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 11.76%.
