Two teams that like to keep the ball on the ground, Head Coach Chris Ash and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+30) are set to take on the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. This Big 10 matchup is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. ET and BTN will televise the action.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview
Wisconsin is the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 30 points to Rutgers. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 49.5 points, and if one side can get out in front early, it’ll likely create a nice live betting opportunity.
The less-than-stellar Scarlet Knights are 3-5 against the spread (ATS) and are down 4.2 units so far. They’ve been a decent under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 3-5. The Badgers have lost 1.0 unit this season. The team is 2-6 ATS and owns an O/U record of 5-3.
The Scarlet Knights have gone 1-7 straight up (SU), including 0-5 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Badgers are 5-3 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
These two Big 10 foes did not get a chance to play each other last season.
The Scarlet Knights are most-recently on the rebound after a thin 18-15 defeat to Northwestern on October 20. The passing attack wasn’t where it needed to be as Artur Sitkowski completed only 15-of-31 passes for 81 yards. Isaih Pacheco (76 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack while Eddie Lewis (four receptions, 18 yards) and Sneed (three catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Wisconsin just dropped a 31-17 game to Northwestern. Jack Coan completed 20-of-31 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown. Jonathan Taylor (46 yards on 11 rush attempts) and Garrett Groshek (68 yards on seven carries) handled the running game as Danny Davis III (five receptions, 55 yards) and Groshek (four catches, 20 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Rutgers has run the ball on 51.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Wisconsin has a rush percentage of 64.3 percent. The Scarlet Knights have rushed for 131 yards per game (including 113 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have nine scores on the ground this year. The Badgers are putting up 268 rush yards per game (257 in conference) and have 20 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it appears the Badgers should own an advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their backfield has produced 6.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 4.9 YPC to opponents. The Scarlet Knights have rushed for 3.9 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.5 to opponents.
The Scarlet Knights offensive scheme has tallied 139 yards/contest through the air overall (123 per game versus conference opposition) and has three passing scores so far. The Badgers have recorded 177 pass yards per outing (162.8 in the Big 10) and have 13 total pass TDs.
Rutgers has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 224 yards and pass for 184 yards per game. The Wisconsin D has given up 184.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 170.4 yards per game on the ground. The Badgers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.85 to opponents, while the Scarlet Knights have given up a 6.31 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Sitkowski is up to 831 yards this season, and has completed 101-of-192 attempts with three scores through the air and 11 interceptions. He’s got a 1.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is -2.30 over the past two outings.
On the other sideline, Alex Hornibrook has completed 93-of-156 passes for 1,251 yards, 11 TDs and six INTs. Hornibrook’s ANY/A sits at 6.78 for the year and 6.78 over his last two outings.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Wisconsin Badgers
SU Winner – Wisconsin, ATS Winner – Rutgers, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
Each team defense has produced 12 sacks this year.
The Wisconsin offense has lost six fumbles this season while Rutgers has let four get away.
The Scarlet Knights offense has produced zero pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Badgers have accounted for two such plays.
The Rutgers defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Wisconsin has given up four such plays.
The Rutgers offense has created six rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Wisconsin has created 17 such runs.
The Scarlet Knights defense has allowed 22 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Badgers have given up 11 such runs.
As a team, Rutgers has rushed for 3.9 yards per attempt across its last three games and 3.9 over its last two.
Wisconsin has averaged 6.1 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.1 over its last two.
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