Cincinnati at Rutgers

Cincinnati is off to a tremendous start opening 5-0 SU and ATS. Rutgers is an amazing story as well, and just as quickly as they became public darlings, they have just as quickly fallen out of public graces and odds-makers respect. One question to ask is this: What would this line have been at the beginning of the season? What would this line have been if Rutgers beat Maryland? We think in either case, very close to 10. This is a complete overreaction to the Rutgers loss to unsung Maryland. Was it a case of looking ahead to this game against Cincinnati, as they spoiled Rutgers perfect season? Was Rutgers exposed last week as a fraud? Our answer is neither. Rutgers was pounded at the line of scrimmage by a vastly bigger and stronger Maryland offensive line. Rutgers defensive line is built for speed, not overwhelming strength. Maryland averaged 320 pounds across the front and just physically dominated Rutgers. We have seen many times where the Rutgers speed and getting to the ball dominates. Cincinnati does not have that physical size up front, and this will be an entirely different game at the line of scrimmage. There is also the huge revenge factor, as their are 1,000s of students wearing T-shirts denoting this game as such. There is also a coaching staff and 36 returning letterman that carry that sting from last season when Rutgers went into Cincinnati with a hangover after their big win over Louisville, and lost a tight one. Cincinnati also played three time zones away last week in San Diego, and there is one more factor to consider here. Rutgers played such a soft schedule early they had nothing on the field to ready them for the likes of Maryland. The same can be said for Cincinnati this week, as they have played no one to ready them for the likes of Rutgers. It is also worth noting that Cincinnati is just 6-22 SU in their last 28 road games. We were on Cincinnati huge last year in this game but in 2007 we switch sides. We think this is a bargain laying just 3.5 on the Scarlet Knights.