Kansas State Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Predictions December 26th 2024

Kansas State Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights December 26th 2024

ESPN will be covering the action as the Kansas State Wildcats and Rutgers Scarlet Knights face off at Chase Field in Phoenix. Kick-off is set for 5:30 ET on Thursday, December 26th. Kansas State is the -7-point favorite in what is currently a rate bowl matchup. The over/under line is at 51.5 points. The Wildcats come in with an 8-4 record this season, while the Scarlet Knights are 7-5.

Rutgers vs. Kansas State Key Information

Rutgers enters Week 1 against Kansas State with a 7-5 record. They’ve gone 3-3 at home and 3-2 on the road. The Scarlet Knights have been favored in five games this season, going 2-3 as the favorite and 4-2 as the underdog. Their average scoring margin is +4.1 points per game.

Against the spread, Rutgers is 6-4-1, with a 3-1-1 record on the road and 3-3 at home. As the favorite, they are 2-3 ATS, while they’ve posted a 4-1-1 record as the underdog.

Rutgers’ over/under record stands at 8-3, with their games averaging 51.8 points. This week’s line is set at 51.5 points, while their average over/under line has been 46.1 points, with an average margin of +5.7 points.

Heading into week 1, Rutgers ranks 36th in our offensive power rankings, with an average of 27.9 points per game, placing them 50th nationally. Their ground game is their strength, averaging 179 rushing yards per game on 39.6 attempts.

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Kyle Monangai leads the rushing attack with 1,279 yards, 13 touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns, but Rutgers ranks 88th in passing yards per game. They have converted 43.5% of their third-down attempts.

Rutgers’ defense played a key role in their 41-14 win over Michigan State, allowing just 14 points. They gave up 276 total yards, including 126 rushing yards on 23 attempts and 150 passing yards, while also forcing an interception.

On the season, Rutgers ranks 39th nationally, allowing 23.8 points per game. Opponents are averaging 150.8 rushing yards per game on 29.5 attempts, while quarterbacks have thrown for 234.1 yards per game against Rutgers’ secondary.

Kansas State enters their Week 1 matchup against Rutgers with an 8-4 record. At home, the Wildcats are 4-1, while they hold a 3-3 record on the road. They’ve been favored in 10 of their 12 games, going 7-3 as the favorite.

The Wildcats’ ATS record is 4-7, and they’ve covered in three of five home games. Their average scoring margin is +7.8 points per game, and they are 4-6 against the spread as the favorite.

This week’s over/under line is 51.5 points. Kansas State’s games have averaged 51.7 points, with an average over/under line of 53.3 points. Their over/under record for the season is 5-6.

Kansas State’s offense is ranked 39th in our CFB offensive power rankings heading into week 11, averaging 29.8 points per game. They are 21st in rushing, with 207 yards per game on the ground. DJ Giddens leads the team with 1,343 rushing yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and has scored seven touchdowns.

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Quarterback Avery Johnson has thrown for 2,517 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, but he has also thrown nine interceptions. He has a passer rating of 92, and Kansas State ranks 83rd in passing yards per game. Jayce Brown leads the receiving corps with 763 yards and five touchdowns.

Kansas State’s defense, ranked 26th nationally, has allowed 21.9 points per game this season. In their recent game against Iowa State, they gave up 29 points, allowing 341 total yards, including 214 passing yards and two touchdowns, while forcing one interception.

Opponents have averaged 223.7 passing yards per game against Kansas State, completing 62.5% of their passes. On the ground, the Wildcats have allowed 122.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 43rd in the nation.

Our projections have Kansas State winning their week one matchup against Rutgers, with a final score of 32-24. With Kansas State as -7 point favorites, we expect them to cover the spread and for this to be a good bet for you.

As for the over/under line, which is set at 51.5 points, we see a combined score of 56 points, making the over the best bet for this matchup.

Kansas State and Rutgers Navigate December Challenges Ahead of Rate Bowl

The Kansas State Wildcats and Rutgers Scarlet Knights have had to juggle a whirlwind of December activities, from recruiting to managing transfer portal departures, all while preparing for Thursday’s Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Despite the distractions, both teams are determined to cap their seasons with a strong performance.

Balancing Bowl Prep with Modern Challenges

For Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, bowl preparation has taken on a new level of complexity in the transfer portal era.

“We’re limited in the amount of time (to game plan) because of portal kids on campus pretty much every day,” Klieman said. “That’s the balance we have to adjust to. I hope we get it figured out in college football in the near future.”

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus during the unique challenges of December.

“We’ve had some good practices because Kansas State is a really good team,” Schiano said. “This is quite a formidable opponent. We’re transitioning from development work to game planning, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”

Kansas State’s Ground Game Focus

Kansas State (8-4) began the season strong at 7-1, with aspirations for a Big 12 championship, only to falter down the stretch by losing three of its final four games. The Wildcats will rely heavily on their rushing attack, even without star running back DJ Giddens, who is sitting out to prepare for the NFL Draft.

The Wildcats’ offense is led by quarterback Avery Johnson, a dynamic dual-threat player who has thrown for 2,517 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 548 yards and six scores. Young backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson are expected to shoulder the rushing load in Giddens’ absence.

Defensively, Kansas State has excelled at stopping the run, allowing just 114.9 rushing yards per game—best in the Big 12.

Rutgers’ Balanced Approach

Rutgers (7-5) started the season 4-0 but saw its momentum wane during a midseason four-game losing streak. The Scarlet Knights feature a balanced offensive attack, averaging 381.2 yards per game. Running back Kyle Monangai is the centerpiece, rushing for 1,395 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanus has been steady under center, throwing for 2,459 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. His top targets are Dymere Miller and Ian Strong, who have combined for over 1,300 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

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Defensively, Rutgers is looking to slow down Kansas State’s rushing attack while maintaining offensive continuity.

“Offensively, we’ve been finding our stride,” Schiano said. “It’s important to keep up the continuity.”

Key Matchups to Watch

• Kansas State’s Rushing Attack vs. Rutgers’ Defense: With Giddens out, the Wildcats will rely on Edwards and Jackson to generate offense on the ground. Rutgers will need to stay disciplined to limit explosive plays.
• Kyle Monangai vs. Kansas State’s Front Seven: Monangai has been a workhorse for the Scarlet Knights, and his ability to find running lanes will be critical.
• Avery Johnson vs. Rutgers’ Secondary: Johnson’s dual-threat capabilities will test Rutgers’ defense, particularly if he can extend plays with his legs.

The Stakes

Both teams aim to put an exclamation mark on seasons that began with high hopes. Kansas State is eager to prove its resilience after a late-season slide, while Rutgers seeks to validate its progress under Schiano with a win over a formidable Big 12 opponent.

As Klieman noted, “We’re going to play a lot of young kids, but we’ve got veterans ready to lead us. It’s a great chance to showcase what we can do.”

For both programs, the Rate Bowl represents a pivotal opportunity to end the season on a high note and carry momentum into 2025.