Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Predictions October 5th 2024

FS1 will be covering the 4:00 ET kickoff between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights as both teams look to pick up their 5th win of the season. This week six matchup is being played at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE. The over/under line is currently at 41.5 points, and the Cornhuskers are -7 point favorites at home. The money line odds are +213 for Rutgers and -267 for Nebraska.

Rutgers vs. Nebraska Key Information

Rutgers enters Week 6 against Nebraska with a 4-0 record and a 96.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. They are ranked 45th in our CFB power rankings and have gone 2-0 at home and 1-0 on the road this season.

The Scarlet Knights have a +18.8 average scoring margin and are 3-0 against the spread. They’ve been favored in two games, going 2-0 ATS as the favorite.

Rutgers’ over/under record is 2-1, with their games averaging 51.2 points. Their average over/under line is 43.8 points, and this week’s line is set at 41.5 points.

Heading into week 6, Rutgers’ offense is averaging 35 points per game, placing them 31st in the nation. They are ranked 41st in our offensive power rankings. Their rushing attack is the focal point, with 239.5 yards per game on 43.5 attempts, ranking 30th nationally. Kyle Monangai leads the ground game with 589 yards, six touchdowns, and an average of 6 yards per carry. Rutgers has converted 51% of their third-down attempts, ranking 13th in the country.

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Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown for 761 yards, completing 61.5% of his passes, with seven touchdowns and one interception, giving him a passer rating of 106. Rutgers ranks 104th in passing yards per game, averaging 190.2. Dymere Miller leads the receiving corps with 227 yards and one touchdown on 15 catches.

Rutgers’ defense has been a key factor this season, ranking 16th nationally by allowing just 16.2 points per game. In their recent game, a 21-18 win over Washington, they gave up 18 points but allowed 521 total yards, including 314 passing yards and 207 rushing yards.

Opponents have averaged 179.5 passing yards per game against Rutgers, completing 56.8% of their throws with a passer rating of 68.9. On the ground, Rutgers has faced the 19th fewest rushing attempts nationally, but they’ve allowed 173.5 rushing yards per game, ranking 116th.

Nebraska enters Week 6 with a 4-1 record, ranked 29th in our power rankings. They have a 92.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible but only a 0.3% shot at winning the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers are undefeated at home (2-0) and have been favored in three of their five games this season.

With an average scoring margin of +18.6, Nebraska is 3-0 against the spread. They’ve covered in all three games as the favorite, going 2-0 at home and 1-0 on the road.

This week’s over/under line is 41.5 points, lower than any of Nebraska’s previous games. Their average over/under line is 48.2 points, and they’ve gone 0-3 against the total, with their games averaging 43 points.

Nebraska’s passing game has been the focal point of their offense, ranking 20th in completions and averaging 258.2 yards per game. Quarterback Dylan Raiola has thrown for 1,211 yards, completing 70.2% of his passes, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Nebraska is 47th in scoring, with 30.8 points per game, and they are 23rd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 6.

Isaiah Neyor leads the receiving corps with 291 yards and four touchdowns on 17 catches. On the ground, Nebraska is averaging 145.4 rushing yards per game. Dante Dowdell has 277 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and is averaging 4 yards per carry.

Nebraska’s defense has been a strong point this season, ranking 12th nationally by allowing just 12.2 points per game. In their recent game against Purdue, they gave up only 10 points, holding the Boilermakers to 12 first downs and 226 total yards. Nebraska’s defense also forced an interception in the game.

Opponents are averaging just 87.4 rushing yards per game against Nebraska, which ranks 17th in the nation. Purdue managed only 52 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Through the air, Nebraska has allowed 188.8 passing yards per game, with Purdue throwing for 174 yards.

Our projections have Rutgers winning this matchup 21-14 over Nebraska, making the Scarlet Knights a good bet as +7 point road underdogs. We also recommend taking the under, with the over/under line set at 41.5 points and our model suggesting a total of 35 points.

Unbeaten Rutgers Wary of QB Dylan Raiola, Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — Although Rutgers is unbeaten through four games this season, head coach Greg Schiano knows his Scarlet Knights will need to elevate their game on Saturday when they take on Nebraska in Lincoln for a crucial Big Ten road clash.

Greg Schiano Calls for Improvement Against Nebraska

Despite Rutgers’ strong start, Schiano emphasized the need for continuous improvement, especially when competing in the highly competitive Big Ten Conference.

“The Big Ten is the most challenging league in the country and it requires you to get better every week,” Schiano said. “If you don’t, you’ll get left in the dust. My main focus is getting our team as improved as we can by Saturday. Will it be enough? I don’t know.”

Nebraska Led by Talented Freshman QB Dylan Raiola

Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) boasts one of the conference’s top quarterbacks in freshman Dylan Raiola. He has completed 70.4 percent of his passes (100 of 142) for 1,224 yards, both figures ranking among the top 25 nationally. Raiola has thrown nine touchdown passes and has been intercepted only twice, making him a key threat for the Cornhuskers.

Rutgers’ Ground Game Leads the Way

Rutgers (4-0, 1-0) has leaned on a dominant rushing attack, averaging 237.8 yards per game on the ground and 35.0 points per game. Running back Kyle Monangai has been particularly impressive, rushing for 589 yards and six touchdowns on 97 carries. Monangai ranks third in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 147.2.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule had high praise for Monangai, comparing his agility and balance to something straight out of “The Matrix.”

“Nothing ever hits (Monangai). He’s got such elite body balance and contact balance,” Rhule said. “No one ever gets a true shot on him, it’s always a glancing blow. I think he’s really a great player.”

Nebraska’s Strong Defense Against the Run

Nebraska’s defense has also been stellar, particularly against the run. The Cornhuskers limited Purdue to just 50 yards rushing in last weekend’s 28-10 victory. So far, Nebraska is allowing only 85.4 rushing yards and 12.2 points per game, making their defensive front a formidable challenge for Rutgers’ ground game.

Schiano also acknowledged Nebraska’s defensive prowess, particularly pointing out Raiola’s maturity and talent as a freshman quarterback.

“Raiola, the quarterback, the freshman, is incredibly talented,” Schiano said. “You don’t usually see a freshman that’s kind of capable of doing the things that he’s doing right now. … The command that he has of their offense, I would say, is good for any level but for a freshman is unheard of.”

Turnover Battle and Rutgers’ Discipline

Turnover margin could be another key factor in the game. Nebraska has a plus-5 turnover margin this season, while Rutgers has committed only two turnovers in their first four games. Maintaining discipline and avoiding costly mistakes will be critical for both teams.

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Historical Advantage for Nebraska

Nebraska has historically dominated the series between these two programs, winning all six previous meetings. The Cornhuskers are also 2-0 against Rutgers at home, giving them a clear home-field advantage going into Saturday’s matchup.

As both teams look to solidify their positions in the Big Ten, the game is shaping up to be a test of Rutgers’ continued progress and Nebraska’s young quarterback’s growing stardom.