The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Kansas Jayhawks will collide on the turf at Kivisto Field at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. FSN has the TV rights and the game’s scheduled to get going at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
Rutgers is a live dog in this Saturday matchup and is currently getting 3 points. The Scarlet Knights are also receiving +135 moneyline odds while the Jayhawks are -155. Some good in-game betting scenarios could exist during this contest.
The opening line was originally set at -4 and early action has shifted toward the Scarlet Knights.
The Scarlet Knights have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 1-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 0-2. The Jayhawks have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 2.4 units. They’re 1-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-1.
The Scarlet Knights are 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Jayhawks are also 1-1 SU.
The Scarlet Knights fell to Ohio State 52-3 in a thumping where the defense allowed the Buckeyes to pass for 354 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 225 yards and two scores. Tate Martell had a good day for the Buckeyes in that one with 95 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts. Offensively, the Scarlet Knights completed 11-of-30 passes for 65 yards and two interceptions. Artur Sitkowski went six-for-18 for 38 yards and one interception while Giovanni Rescigno completed five-of-12 for 27 yards and one interception. Isaih Pacheco (only 21 rushing yards on 10 attempts) led the running attack while Blackshear (three receptions, 12 yards) and Bo Melton (two catches, seven yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Kansas is coming off of a 31-7 win over Central Michigan. The team’s defense allowed the Chippewas to run for 103 yards on 28 rush attempts. Tony Poljan was a bright spot in the defeat for Central Michigan, posting 43 rushing yards on 10 attempts. For Kansas, Peyton Bender completed 17-of-26 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. Pooka Williams Jr. (125 rushing yards on 14 attempts, two TDs) and Dom Williams (32 yards on 10 carries) spearheaded the running game as Kerr Johnson Jr. (four receptions, 68 yards, one TD) and Steven Sims Jr. (four catches, 30 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Rutgers has run the ball on 56.2 percent of its offensive possessions while Kansas has a rush percentage of 54.2. The Scarlet Knights have rushed for 144 yards/game and have three touchdowns on the ground this year. The Jayhawks are logging 136 rush yards per game and have two total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Scarlet Knights could hold an edge in the trenches, since their offensive line has yielded only 18 sacks while their D-line registered 16 sacks. The Jayhawks offensive line has given up 29 sacks and their defense has recorded only 19 sacks.
The Scarlet Knights offense has averaged 135 yards through the air overall and has only one passing scores so far. The Jayhawks have put up 172 pass yards per outing and have three total pass TDs.
Defensively, Rutgers has let opponents run for an average of 147 yards and pass for 227 yards per game. The Kansas defense has allowed 159.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 145.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Jayhawks are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.5 to opposing QBs, while the Scarlet Knights have allowed a 7.46 ANY/A.
Offensively, Sitkowski is up to 38 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 33 percent of his 18 attempts with zero scores through the air and one interception. He’s got a -1.25 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 1.06 over the past two games.
We’re looking for Scarlet Knights to maintain tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Raheem Blackshear (31 rush yards, 12 receiving yards), Jonathan Hilliman (30 rush yards), and Isaih Pacheco (21 rush yards) have really been focal points in the Rutgers offensive scheme.
For the home team, Peyton Bender has managed to complete 17-of-26 passes for 130 yards, one TD and zero INTs. Bender’s ANY/A stands at 5.15 for the season and 4.68 across his last two games.
The Jayhawks will also try to control the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. Along with Kerr Johnson Jr. (68 receiving yards, one receiving TD), Pooka Williams Jr. (125 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Khalil Herbert (29 rush yards) have seen a multitude of touches lately.
Free Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Kansas Jayhawks
SU Winner – Kansas, ATS Winner – Kansas
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Each team has lost one fumble this year
The Rutgers defense has sacked opposing QBs five times this season. Kansas has produced two sacks.
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