A couple of teams that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Nunzio Campanile and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (-51.5) are ready to face their Big 10 nemesis No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at SHI Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on BTN and kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is significantly favored here and is currently giving up 51.5 points to Rutgers. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 60.5 points, and if one team can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it’ll likely produce a solid in-game betting scenario.
The original odds have changed, as the opening line was 50.5. The game’s over/under has yet to move after it was initially set at 60.5.
The surprising Buckeyes are 8-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 5.0 units so far in 2019. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 5-4.
The Scarlet Knights are down 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-7 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4-1.
The Buckeyes are 9-0 straight up (SU), including 6-0 SU against conference opponents. The Scarlet Knights are 2-7 SU overall and 0-6 SU in conference play.
The Buckeyes are hoping to remain undefeated following a 73-14 victory over Maryland last week. the Buckeyes completed 26-of-38 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Fields went 16-for-25 for 200 yards and three touchdowns while Chris Chugunov completed eight-of-11 for 103 yards and one touchdown. Master Teague III (111 rushing yards on 18 attempts) and J.K. Dobbins (90 yards on 12 carries, two TDs) led the running attack while Chris Olave (five receptions, 43 yards, one TD) and Garrett Wilson (four catches, 82 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Rutgers could already be looking ahead to 2020 following a 28-point loss to Illinois. Johnny Langan completed five-of-10 passes for 86 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Langan (41 yards on 23 rush attempts) and Aaron Young (67 yards on 13 carries) mounted the running game as Mohamed Jabbie (three receptions, 64 yards, one TD) and Elijah Barnwell (one catch, eight yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Breaking down the offensive play-calling, each team sports a similar (63-37) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Buckeyes have rushed for 295.2 yards per game (including 320.5 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 29 scores on the ground this year. The Scarlet Knights haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re putting up 136.4 rush yards per game (112.5 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then it appears the Buckeyes should have an advantage when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 6.3 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.5 YPC to opponents. The Scarlet Knights have recorded 3.5 yards per carry and given up 5.0 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Buckeyes offense has logged 240.7 yards per game in the air overall (220.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 32 passing scores so far. The Scarlet Knights have put up 143.9 pass yards per outing (75 against Big 10 foes) and have six total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 88.2 rush yards and 126.6 pass yards per game. The Rutgers defense has allowed 232.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 199.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Buckeyes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 1.79 to opponents, while the Scarlet Knights have given up a 7.81 ANY/A.
Langan has completed 33-of-68 passes for 306 yards, one TD and six INTs for Rutgers. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at a very poor -0.28 for the season and 8.00 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Fields is up to 1,692 passing yards on the year, and has completed 132-of-189 attempts with 25 passing touchdowns and only one interception. Fields has a pristine 10.28 ANY/A for the year, though that number sits at 8.29 over the past two outings.
When these two programs met a year ago, Ohio State knocked Rutgers off by a landslide 52-3.
Ohio State Buckeyes at Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Rutgers, ATS Winner: Rutgers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The O/U for Ohio State’s last game was set at 66. The over cashed in the team’s 73-14 victory over Maryland.
- Ohio State, as a team, has averaged 6.5 yards per carry over its past three games and 6.1 over its last two.
- Rutgers has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost six fumbles this year.
- In its last three matches, Ohio State is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Rutgers’ previous match was set at 48.5. The under cashed in the 38-10 defeat to Illinois.
- In its last three games, Rutgers is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Buckeyes offense has created three pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Scarlet Knights have accounted for four such plays.
- The Ohio State defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Rutgers has given up 10 such plays.
- The Ohio State offense has created 29 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Rutgers has created eight such runs.
- The Buckeyes defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Scarlet Knights have given up 15 such runs.
- The Ohio State defense has 41 sacks on the year while Rutgers has just 11.
