Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks, Predictions, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

The Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to meet the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten conference game Friday at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FS1.

Updated on 12/22/2024

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NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING PREDICTION

It's been a trying season (again!) for the Cornhuskers of Nebraska, starting out 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS, including an embarrassing loss in Dublin against Northwestern back in Week 0 to start the season off on a low note. However, the Huskers finally had something to feel good about last Saturday, posting a 35-21 victory over Indiana to cover a 6.5-point number in interim head coach Mickey Joseph's second game at the helm since Scott Frost was given the shoo. The UNDER has cashed in each of the past two games, and three of the previous four games overall.

Things were going swimmingly for the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers, going 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS in the non-conference schedule. Rutgers came crashing back to Earth in the Big Ten opener, falling 27-10 in Piscataway against Iowa. It got worse. Much worse. The Scarlet Knights hit the road for Columbus and found out how far behind the contenders they are, getting drubbed 49-10 at Ohio State as the OVER connected.

Nebraska rolled up 270 passing yards and 115 rushing yards, showing some nice balance, while posting 22 first downs to just 14 last weekend. Discipline was still an issue for the Huskers, committing 12 penalties for 111 yards, and that might fly against the dregs of the conference, but they'll get hammered when facing the top-tier teams.

We'll skip looking back at the Ohio State game for Rutgers, as it is clearly not in the same league. Nebraska is a lot closer to Iowa, literally and figuratively. The Scarlet Knights were still able to rack up 300 passing yards against the Hawkeyes defense, and that will be the key in this game. Rutgers even had 20 first downs to just 15 for Iowa, and the Hawkeyes benefited from a pick-six and a scoop and score. If Rutgers can limit the mistakes, it should be in good shape at home.

Score Prediction: Rutgers 30, Nebraska 24
Best Bet: Rutgers +132 ML
Best Bet: OVER 48.5 (-108)

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING ODDS

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NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Friday, Oct. 7, 2022
Matchup: Big Ten
Venue: SHI Stadium
Location: Piscataway, New Jersey
Time-TV: FS1, 7:00 p.m. ET
Expert Picks

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Nebraska is looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since topping Fordham and Buffalo last Sept. 4-11. The last time the Cornhuskers defeated FBS teams in consecutive weekends was Sept. 14-21, 2019, before anybody knew what coronavirus or COVID-19 was. It's hard to believe, as if you grew up when I did, Nebraska was a powerhouse nearly every season in the old Big 8, facing Oklahoma more often than not for a trip to the Orange Bowl. My, how times have changed.

Nebraska's offense isn't the issue. It ranks a respectable 47th in the nation, posting 437.8 total yards per game, with some balance. It ranks 50th in passing yards per game (260.0), and 49th in rushing yards per game (177.8). The red-zone efficiency could be a little better, and the points scored (31.4 PPG) is just 67th, but again, that's the least of the problems for the Huskers.

The defense is God awful, and in no way, shape or form resembling those amazing Blackshirts defenses of yesteryear. These guys look more like Pinkshirts lately. Nebraska has allowed 469.2 total yards per game, 124th out of 131 in FBS, while allowing 269.0 passing yards, 200.2 rushing yards and 32.6 PPG. Mike Minter, Barrett Ruud, Neil Smith, Broderick Thomas and Grant Wistrom, where have you gone?

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Scarlet Knights are winless in two games, but this is a very winnable game for the home side. It's actually rather surprising to see Rutgers as short 'dogs at home given their early-season success against teams which it is actually better than.

Rutgers does struggle on offense, but even this unit will be able to move the ball on Nebraska. The run game isn't bad, ranking 59th overall with 168.0 yards per game on the ground, while posting 24.8 PPG. The defense is rock-solid, ranking 18th in the nation with just 283.4 total yards per game, and 19th in rushing defense with only 96.8 yards per game allowed. RU should at least be able to slow down the Nebraska offense somewhat. Remember, this is still a Huskers team which lost to Northwestern, so don't play Nebraska just on name and history alone. Rutgers is the better football team.

Rutgers is 2-5-1 ATS in the past eight games overall, 1-6 ATS in the past seven home games and 0-3-1 ATS in the past four conference tilts. For totals, the OVER is 4-1 in the past four at home, but the UNDER is 7-1 in the past eight Friday appearances.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING TRENDS

• Nebraska is 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall
• Nebraska is 2-8 ATS in the past 10 October games
• Nebraska is 4-1 ATS in the past five Friday games
• Rutgers is 2-5-1 ATS in the past eight games overall
• Rutgers is 1-6 ATS in the past seven home games
• Rutgers is 0-3-1 ATS in the past four Big Ten games
• UNDER is 8-3-1 in the past 12 road games for Nebraska
• OVER is 13-6 in the past 19 Friday games for Nebraska
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five home games for Rutgers
• UNDER is 7-1 in the past eight Friday games for Rutgers
• Road team is 4-0 ATS in past four meetings

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish