1. Rutgers at Temple
LINE Rutgers -17.5
ATS PICK Rutgers
There’s nothing about this that feels right.
It’s Rutgers.
Rutgers shouldn’t be giving away 17.5 to a potted plant much less a real, live football team. Apparently America feels that way, too – the line hasn’t moved much from the -17 when it opened.
This is a better Temple team now under new head coach Stan Drayton. Is it significantly stronger than the version that lost to Rutgers 61-14 to open last year? Ehhhhh, a little.
Is it the 30-14 win over Lafayette last week that did it for everyone?
Again, it’s Rutgers. Yeah, it beat Boston College 22-21 to start the season, and you and your sewing circle could beat Wagner 66-7, but the team is in place to win this easily.
Even in the win last week, Temple’s offense didn’t really work. The passing game was okay, but the ground attack sputtered and the three turnovers – to go along with the three in the 30-0 loss to Duke – were a problem.
Rutgers destroys teams that screw up, and its defense forces mistakes with five takeaways in the first two games.
There’s that, there’s the defense that allowed 48 rushing yards on 59 carries so far, and there’s all the pressure from the front that’s going to be a problem for the Owl backfield.
But it’s still Rutgers, and it’s still giving away 17.5 on the road.
Expect the defense to get this done.
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