Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Wisconsin Badgers

Rutgers opened the season against Akron and Howard and won the two games by a combined score of 93-24. Any thoughts of Rutgers having a good offense has not been met on the field. They have averaged just 18.3 PPG since the two cupcake wins early on. The Rutgers defense has been the real deal as they alloww 15.8 PPG on the season. Wisconsin has proven not to be up to speed vs. very good offensive teams as they allowwed 42 to Alabama and 38 to USC. Their other three games, which are more in line with the Rutgers mediocre offense the Badgers have allowed just 11 PPG. Rutgers has never solved the Wisconsin defense. The two teams have met five times and Rutgers has averaged 8.6 PPG. Bet this one to stay UNDER the total.

Rutgers is off to a 4-1 start and Greg Schiano, in his second stint as coach at Rutgers, is slowly building a competitive team. The Scarlet Knights offense is below average but the defense is allowing just 268 yards per game at 4.4 yards per play. Wisconsin is built in a similar way as their offense is mediocre but as usual, the Badgers are getting after it on defense where they are significantly above average. I think both defenses are better than the offenses they will face in this game, and both teams like to run the ball so the clock should be ticking for a lot of the game I expect there to be fewer than average plays run in this contest. Rutgers has been 18-4 to the UNDER in their last 22 games following a win of 21 points or more and is 11-2 to the under in their last 13 road games. Make the play UNDER the total.

Rutgers has had two weeks to prepare. They are still playing hard, off an 18-15 defeat to Northwestern as a +20 dog. The Scarlet Knights have covered five of seven after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. They are a huge dog to a Wisconsin squad that is in a look-ahead spot with a showdown at Penn State on deck. Wisconsin has lost two of three, getting routed by Michigan (38-13) and off a 31-17 loss at Northwestern as a favorite. Throw in a September 24-21 loss to BYU as 23-point chalk and this Badger season has been disappointing. Wisconsin is on a 2-6 spread run, including 1-5 ATS at home. And college football home favorites that have a winning record but have lost two of their last three games are 38-75 ATS. Play Rutgers.