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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-0 (1-0 Big Ten) and Nebraska Cornhuskers 4-1 (1-1) meet at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Rutgers vs. Nebraska odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Rutgers moved to 4-0 after edging out Washington 21-18. The Scarlet Knights led 21-10 heading into the fourth but had to fend off a late push to secure the win. Despite being outgained 521-299, they converted 7 of 15 third downs to keep key drives alive. QB Athan Kaliakmanis passed for 115 yards and a touchdown, while RB Kyle Monangai carried the load on the ground, rushing for 132 yards and a score.
Nebraska improved to 4-1 with a 28-10 win over Purdue. After trailing 3-0 in the third quarter, the Cornhuskers scored 28 unanswered points. QB Dylan Raiola threw for 257 yards and a touchdown, while RB Jacory Barney Jr. rushed for 66 yards and a score. Nebraska’s defense held Purdue to just 224 yards, helping seal the victory.
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Rutgers vs. Nebraska odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rutgers +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Nebraska -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rutgers +7 (-115) | Nebraska -7 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 39.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Rutgers vs. Nebraska picks and predictions
Prediction
Nebraska 27, Rutgers 24
Moneyline
PASS.
I could see Rutgers (+220) winning this game outright but I’m not confident enough to take the moneyline. I’d rather take the touchdown and sleep better.
Against the spread
BET RUTGERS +7 (-115).
While Nebraska does have the advantage of playing at home, they’ve struggled with consistency recently. They had a sloppy outing against Illinois a couple of games ago and really struggled to put up points against Purdue until late. Their offense hasn’t looked entirely convincing, and that leaves room for concern.
Meanwhile, Rutgers comes in with some momentum after back-to-back wins over Washington and Virginia Tech. The Scarlet Knights have shown a solid defensive effort throughout the season and have been effective at controlling the pace of games. Monangai is one of the more underrated running backs in the country, and his ability to grind out yards will be key in keeping Rutgers competitive. With a defense that limits big plays and an offense that can manage the clock, I think Rutgers has what it takes to keep this game within a touchdown.
Over/Under
BET OVER 39.5 (-110).
While recent history between Rutgers and Nebraska points toward the under—each of their last four meetings has gone under the total—this matchup looks primed to break that trend. The current line is set at 41 points, which feels a bit conservative given what we’ve seen from Nebraska this season. The Cornhuskers’ games have averaged 49.2 total points, significantly higher than the total here, suggesting there’s potential for more offense than the line indicates.
Rutgers hasn’t gone over the total in any of their games so far, but their offense has shown signs of life recently, and Nebraska’s inconsistent defense could allow for more points. Both teams have enough offensive talent to make this a more high-scoring affair than past matchups, especially if Nebraska’s shaky defensive performances continue. Given the low total and the potential for both offenses to find success, betting the over at 41 seems like a smart move.
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