Coming off last week’s big win at Penn State, the Buckeyes (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) return home to host the Scarlet Knights (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS). Rutgers has lost its last two trips to Ohio Stadium by a combined score of 110-3 and has dropped all six all-time meetings by an average of 45.6 points.
- Date/Time: November 7, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Ohio Stadium
- TV Coverage: Big Ten Network
- Sportsbook Odds: Ohio State -37.5 | O/U 62.5 (Line History)
- Rutgers vs Ohio State Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
This line opened a lot shorter than last year’s meeting in New Jersey, when the Buckeyes were 52-point road favorites. Rutgers covered that game in a 56-21 loss, dropping Ohio State to 4-1 ATS in its last five games as chalk of 37 points or more.
Rutgers News & Notes
A week after forcing seven turnovers in a 38-27 upset win at Michigan State, the Scarlet Knights were undone by their own turnovers last Saturday against Indiana. Rutgers matched the Hoosiers in first downs (20) and held Indiana to 2-for-12 on third down, but three interceptions by Scarlet Knights quarterback Noah Vedral led to 17 of the Hoosiers’ 37 points.
Two of Vedral’s picks came on consecutive throws in the second quarter, setting up Indiana touchdown drives deep in Rutgers territory. The pivot also lost a fumble and finished the game with only 129 passing yards on 34 attempts, although he did toss a pair of touchdown passes.
The loss dropped Rutgers to 1-22 SU in its last 23 games against Big Ten opponents. The Scarlet Knights are also 3-8 ATS in their last 11 conference games and have lost 12 of their last 13 games on the road, where they’ve gone UNDER in nine of their last 12.
Ohio State News & Notes
Slow starts plagued the Buckeyes last year, but they seem to have put those problems behind them. Ohio State broke a 62-yard run on its Sportsbook play of last week’s showdown in Penn State and scored two touchdowns on its first seven offensive plays, setting the tone for a 38-25 statement victory in Happy Valley.
Quarterback Justin Fields connected with eight different receivers in a 318-yard, four-touchdown performance and has now completed 48 of his 55 pass attempts on the season.
Defensively, the Buckeyes allowed 281 passing yards, but many of those came in the second half once Ohio State had built a comfortable lead. The Buckeyes outgained Penn State 280-75 in yards before halftime, and the Nittany Lions’ two first-half field goals came after an Ohio State penalty and a bizarre turnover on downs late in the half.
It shouldn’t matter in this contest, but Ohio State does have some concerns about its kicking game after two weeks. Starting kicker Blake Haubeil was pulled from last week’s contest with groin pain after missing a 20-yard field goal, and backup Dominic DiMaccio missed a 23-yarder later in the game.
Betting Pick: Ohio State -37.5
There’s potential for a Buckeyes letdown here, but I don’t think it’ll matter. Ohio State should score with ease throughout, and the Scarlet Knights’ weak offense isn’t much of a threat to earn a backdoor cover once this score gets out of hand.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Rutgers’ last 12 road games.
- Ohio State is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games.
- Rutgers has lost 6 straight games vs Ohio State (avg. losing margin: 46.5).
