Rutgers vs Penn State
PublishedNovember 16, 2023,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:November 17, 2023 ,

NCAAF: Rutgers vs. Penn State Prediction 11/18/2023

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-4) travel to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2) on Saturday, November 18th. This game will be played at Beaver Stadium in University Park and televised on FS1. Both Rutgers and Penn State will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 ET.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Penn State Nittany Lions

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their most recent game, Rutgers took on Iowa and lost by a score of 22-0. The Scarlet Knights trailed Iowa by -6 going into the 4th quarter. Against Iowa, Gavin Wimsatt threw for 93 yards against Iowa, but did throw a touchdown pass. Overall his passer rating was 32.87 on a completion percentage of 38.9%.

Against the spread, Rutgers was not able to cover as 2-point underdogs. On the over/under, the line was 27.5 going into the game resulting in the under hitting.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the Penn State with a 6-4 record, including 1-2 on the road and 4-1 at home.

Rutgers has gone into five games as the favorite this season and three games as the underdog. Their ATS record is currently 4-2-2. The average point total in Rutgers’ 10 games is currently 42.4 points per game. This has led to an over/under record of 4-4 for the Scarlet Knights.

The Penn State Nittany Lions Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

After trailing by -8 at halftime, Penn State could not make a comeback and lost their most recent game 24-15 to Michigan. In the team’s most recent loss, quarterback Drew Allar was not only responsible for one touchdown through the air but also added one touchdown on the ground. In terms of passing, he accumulated 70 yards while achieving a completion rate of 45.5%.

Against the spread, Penn State was not able to cover as 4-point underdogs. On the over/under, the line was 44.5 going into the game resulting in the under hitting.

So far, the Penn State Nittany Lions are 8-2, including going 3-1 on the road and 4-1 at home.

So far, Penn State has been favored seven times and the underdog in two games. This has led to an ATS record of 6-3 and an average scoring differential of +24.6. So far this season, the average over/under line for Penn State’s games has been 47.1 points. The Nittany Lions have an over/under record of 5-4 heading into this week’s game.

Rutgers Offense Breakdown

On offense, Rutgers comes into the game averaging 24.1, which is 73rd in the NCAA. On average, they are averaging 140.9 passing yards (122nd) compared to 44th in rushing yards. For the season, they are averaging 376 rushing attempts per contest.

Gavin Wimsatt is the team’s passing leader, having thrown for 1356 yards. He has also added some production in the running game, ranking 2nd on the team in rushing yards. This season, he’s carried the ball 89 times for 409 yards, while maintaining a completion rate of 48.2%.

Penn State Offense Breakdown

Penn State’s rushing attack is ranked 15th in college football with 406 rushing attempts per game. This has translated into an average of 173.9 rushing yards per game, placing them 46th nationally. On average, they are attempting 33 passes per game leading to 206.1 passing yards per contest. In terms of scoring, they hold the 15th position, averaging 37.7 points per game.

So far this season, Drew Allar has thrown for 1965 yards, averaging 10.3 per completion. His completion percentage is 61.6%, and he’s registered 21 touchdowns.

Rutgers Team Defense

So far this season, the Scarlet Knights’ defense has given up 129.2 rushing yards per game against the run (158th). Opponents are averaging 166.2 passing yards and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 80.8 against Rutgers. In terms of points allowed, they are 86th in the NCAA.

Penn State Team Defense

Penn State’s defense enters the game ranked 185th in passing yards allowed per game. Opponents throw the ball an average of 26.3 times against the Nittany Lions. They have given up 13.1 PPG, which ranks 51st in college football. In terms of rushing yards allowed, they stand at 7th in the NCAA.

Rutgers vs Penn State Trends

  • On the road, Rutgers has gone 4-4-1 vs. the spread.
  • Penn State is 2-1 ATS in their last home games.
  • Penn State’s ATS record in their ten most recent games as the underdog is 4-6.
  • Rutgers’ record vs. the spread in their five most recent games as the favorite is 4-1.

Rutgers vs Penn State Prediction

Going into this matchup, Penn State’s offense has had difficulty converting on third downs. I expect them to struggle once again and like Rutgers +20.

I’m placing my bet on the over with the current over/under line at 41.5. Up to this point, games involving Penn State have seen an average combined score of 50.8 points, and I expect this game to exceed 41.5.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.