Rutgers vs. Penn State Prediction
Will Rutgers be able to compete on the road at all when the Scarlet Knights face No. 10 Penn State today at 3:30PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
373 Rutgers vs. 374 Penn State
Saturday, November 30, 2019
3:30PM ET – Beaver Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new NCAAF Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Penn State is favored at home, as the Nittany Lions are getting odds of -40.5 points against Rutgers. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 49.5 points. The public betting currently has 84 percent going on Penn State as the home favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Penn State comes up short at Ohio State
Penn State is coming off a 28-17 loss at Ohio State last weekend for its second loss in three games, but the Nittany Lions were as competitive with the Buckeyes as anyone has been this year. Penn State is 9-2 on the season, 6-2 in the Big Ten, 6-5 against the spread and 6-5 with the under.
The Nittany Lions have been one of the stronger defensive teams in the nation, allowing just 14.8 points and 325.7 yards per game. Yetur Gross-Matos is leading the defense with 39 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Offensively, PSU is putting up 35 points and 410.1 yards per contest. Sean Clifford has been leading the offense with 2,521 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, while also rushing for 374 yards and five scores. He is a game-time decision for this contest. If he is unable to go, Will Levis gets the start. He has thrown for just 142 yards this year. Journey Brown is the team’s leading rusher with 585 yards and seven touchdowns while KJ Hamler has 49 catches for 836 yards and eight scores.
Rutgers not competitive
Rutgers has struggled all season and now lost three straight following a 27-0 loss at home to Michigan State last week. The Knights come into this game at 2-9 overall, 0-8 in the Big Ten, 3-8 against the spread and 6-5 with the under.
The Knights have had the nation’s worst offense, averaging just 13.9 points and 263.3 yards per game this year. The defense has also been among the worst in the country, giving up 37.5 points and 442.6 yards per game. Isaih Pacheco has been leading the offense this year with 627 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Johnny Langan has been the leading passer with 676 yards and four touchdowns, but also has nine interceptions. Bo Melton is the team’s leading receiver with 27 catches for 375 yards and two touchdowns.
College Football Betting Trends
Penn State
The Nittany Lions are 0-4 against the spread in their last four home games and 5-15-2 ATS in their last 22 games following a loss.
Rutgers
The Knights are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven against a winning team and 1-7 ATS in their last eight conference games.
Prediction:
Penn State hasn’t had any trouble beating Rutgers, but the Knights have covered in the last two encounters. The spreads have been quite large for Rutgers games this year, but they were able to cover the last time the spread was quite this large. Rutgers was a 52-point do at Ohio State and lost 56-21. Penn State has shown a desire to run up the score when possible, but with Clifford a game-time decision, he can’t be 100 percent if he plays. I don’t think Penn State will get too aggressive with him if he plays and I think the backup could struggle to lead the offense enough to cover. Rutgers also could find some points along the way to make it even tougher to cover. With the spread just so large, I will take the points.
College Football Week 14 Prediction: Rutgers +40.5
Related: Rutgers vs. Penn State Total Prediction