The Buffalo Bulls (-6) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights are set to do battle on the turf at HighPoint.com Stadium. The afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and Big Ten Network will televise the action.
Buffalo Bulls vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview
In this Saturday game, Buffalo is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Bulls are also receiving -240 moneyline odds while the Scarlet Knights are +190. Should one team can find paydirt in the early stages it will generate a worthwhile betting scenario in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 55.5 points.
The sharp action is siding with both the Bulls and the under. The line initially opened at 3 and the over/under was originally 57.
The Bulls have gained 2.6 units so far and are 2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under mark of 2-0. The Scarlet Knights have lost 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 1-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-2.
The Bulls are 3-0 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Scarlet Knights are 1-2 SU.
The Bulls are looking to stay undefeated after a 35-28 victory over Eastern Michigan last week. The passing attack was on point as Tyree Jackson completed 21-of-26 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Emmanuel Reed (68 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and Kevin Marks (60 yards on 14 carries, two TDs) led the running attack while K.J. Osborn (seven receptions, 188 yards, three TDs) and Anthony Johnson (six catches, 74 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Rutgers just fell 55-14 to Kansas. As a group, the Scarlet Knights collectively completed 14-of-31 passes for 124 yards and three interceptions. Artur Sitkowski went seven-for-19 for 47 yards and three interceptions while Giovanni Rescigno was seven-of-12 for 77 yards. Raheem Blackshear (102 rushing yards on 19 attempts) and Jonathan Hilliman (44 yards on 11 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as Eddie Lewis (four receptions, 43 yards) and Jerome Washington (three catches, 41 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Each of these teams has a remarkably similar (54-46) run-pass ratio on the season. The Bulls have rushed for 157 yards/game and have five touchdowns on the ground this year. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 146 rushing yards per game and have four total rush TDs.
The Bulls offense has tallied 267 yards per contest through the air overall and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Scarlet Knights have recorded 131 pass yards per contest and have just one pass scores.
Buffalo has allowed opponents to run for an average of 152 yards and throw for 221 yards per game. The Rutgers defense has allowed 199.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 231.3 yards per game on the ground. The Bulls are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.48 to opposing QBs, while the Scarlet Knights have given up a 7.20 ANY/A.
Offensively, Jackson is up to 514 passing yards this season, and has connected on 72 percent of his 53 attempts with nine scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Jackson has a pristine 13.09 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 9.51 over the past two games.
In the home locker room, Giovanni Rescigno has managed to complete 7-of-12 passes for 77 yards, zero TDs and zero INTs. Rescigno’s ANY/A sits at 6.42 for the season and 1.96 over his past two games.
NCAA Prediction: Buffalo Bulls vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
SU Winner – Rutgers, ATS Winner – Rutgers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
As a team, Buffalo has rushed for 3.9 yards per carry over its last two outings.
Rutgers has averaged 3.4 YPC over its last two.
The Rutgers offense has lost four fumbles this season while Buffalo has let one get away.
The Bulls offense has produced three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Scarlet Knights have put up zero such plays.
The Buffalo defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Rutgers has given up two such plays.
The Buffalo offense has created one rushing play of 20 or more yards, while Rutgers has created two such runs.
The Bulls defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Scarlet Knights have given up nine such runs.
The Buffalo D has sacked opposing QBs nine times this season. Rutgers has recorded five sacks.
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