Rutgers vs. Penn State Total Pick
Will No. 16 Penn State rack up enough points to hit the over when it plays host to Rutgers today at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Penn State is the heavy favorite at home, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -31 points against Rutgers. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 54 points. Penn State has won 10 straight meetings with Rutgers and the two have hit the under in their three Big Ten meetings. The public is currently putting 58 percent of the wagers on Rutgers on the road. Today’s game takes place from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Rutgers is coming off a 31-24 win over Maryland last week to improve to 4-5 on the season and 3-3 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights are 5-4 with the over this season, hitting it in four of their last five games. Rutgers has been pretty good on defense, allowing just 24.9 points and 393.9 yards per game. When it comes to offense, Rutgers is averaging 22.6 points and 294.4 yards per game. Their passing attack is putting up just 127 yards per game. Giovanni Rescigno has been the recent starter at QB. He has 407 passing yards with two touchdowns and 1 pick. Gus Edwards is the leading rusher with 630 yards and six touchdowns while Robert Martin has 358 yards and three scores.
Penn State has lost back-to-back games to Ohio State and Michigan State by a combined four points. The Nittany Lions are now 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. PSU is 5-4 with the under this year, but has hit the over in its last three games. Penn State is giving up an average of just 14.8 points and 331.4 yards per game while the offense is putting up 38 points and 443.6 yards per contest. Trace McSorley has thrown for 2,452 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions this season. He also has 305 rushing yards with eight touchdowns. Saquon Barkley has run for 864 yards and nine touchdowns and also has 39 catches for 504 yards and three scores.
What we expected weeks ago from these two teams has changed a lot in comparison to today. Penn State still has an offense to fear, but its defense has looked quite lackluster in recent weeks. I expect the skill players of PSU to continue to score points, but I think the surging Rutgers team will also have success. Penn State has hit the over in eight of its last nine games in November and in six of its last seven games following a loss.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: RUTGERS/PENN STATE OVER 54