A BIG10 Friday night showdown between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights in New Jersey. Before the season started for both teams, one had elevated expectations and the other not so much. Unfortunately, for the Cornhuskers they were the team that have not met expectations for some time. For the Scarlet Knights, ranked by most college football fans 12th in the BIG10, have won more games this season than last year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview
💣s away!!!!@treythekiid3's HUGE catch puts @HuskerFBNation back on top! pic.twitter.com/P0EejtNx6W
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2022
Let us just give the Cornhuskers a fresh start this past Saturday. With all the drama of when Scott Frost was going to be fired and then was fired. You can say the Cornhuskers had no idea what type of team they can become.
Interim HC, Mickey Joseph, who also played for the Cornhuskers received his first win as the head caller this past weekend. Nebraska stayed tied up with the Hoosiers until the 4th quarter where QB Casey Thompson led the 14 unanswered points. It is without a doubt that his go-to wideout is Trey Palmer this season. Palmer, a transfer like Thompson himself, has tallied 1/3 of the receiving yards for the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska’s defense was the key to their last victory against the Hoosiers. After allowing 45 and 49 points the final two weeks in September, the defense only allowed 21 points. What made the performance remarkable is they only allowed the Hoosiers to convert 2/15 3rd downs. They will have their chance to repeat that matter against Rutgers, who is second to last in yards per game.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview
WEAR BLACK FRIDAY⬛️#CHOP | 🪓 | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/Ip45DVmY2T
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) October 3, 2022
Not many turn their television to watch Rutgers football, but have won already three games and only need one more to match their season total O/U. Say what you want, but Rutgers started the season with an impressive out of conference road win against Boston College. The Scarlet Knights started the season 3-0, but since have been on a two-game losing streak.
Rutgers offense might not have been their strength before the season started and it has shown in BIG10 play. Scoring only 10 points against Ohio State and Iowa is reasonable with their defenses, but you want to see more. HC Greg Schiano is looking to find the same success he did with the Scarlet Knights the latter half of his 1st stint (2001-2011; 2005-2011).
The best features of this year’s Rutgers football team are the running game and the defense. Rutgers has a committee of players who average a total of 170 yards per game. Defensively, if Rutgers was not in the BIG10, they would be top-two in most conferences. Allowing only 186 yards passing and 95 yards rushing will be important this Friday against the Cornhuskers, who are LAST in defensive yards allowed in the BIG10.
Nebraska Cornhuskers v. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Odds (Bet365)
- ATS: Nebraska (-3)/Rutgers (+3)
- O/U: 48.5
- ML: Nebraska (-145)/Rutgers (+125)
- FPI: Rutgers 54.6%
- Nebraska: 1-4ATS, 2-3 O/U, 2-3 SU
- Rutgers: 2-2-1 ATS, 3-2 O/U, 3-2 SU
Prediction: Nebraska ML & Under 48.5
A Friday night road game can be a trap game for any team, but I am leaning with the Huskers. I expect Rutgers to start off quick with their “blackout” atmosphere, but cool off dramatically.
Both the Cornhuskers and the Scarlet Knights are NOT impressive in regarding ATS and SU, but two areas caught my eye.
- The UNDER has hit in 6/7 games when Nebraska plays against the East Division and the UNDER has hit for Rutgers in 7/8 games played on a Friday.
- Nebraska is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on a Friday.
I am also fading Rutgers in general because as a home underdog, the Scarlet Knights are 3-27 L30.
Go Huskers!