Time: Noon EST, Saturday
Spread: RUT -7.5
Total: 40.5
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
UCONN
UConn has been good on the strength of a defense that ranks 23rd in the nation, allowing just 15.6 points per game. The stat is bolstered by a shut out of UMass, but the defense has otherwise been just decent. In the loss in week 2 to NC State, they gave up only 10 points, but scored just a TD themselves. So don’t be deceived by the stat. Their offense is averaging only 23.2 points per game, near the bottom of the nation.
Last week they won by a TD against Buffalo to improve to 3-2 on the year. RBs Lyle McCombs and Martin Hyppolite combined for 157 yards and two TDs. McCombs had 29 carries for 97 yards and his TD gave them a 24-7 lead with just 5 mins left in the third quarter. They failed to score from that point onwards, but hung on.
Sophomore QB Chandler Whitmer had a superb game, throwing 15 of 22 for 227 yards, while not throwing any interceptions. His QB rating of 169.9 for the game was his best so far in this young season and his rating on the year is 128.7 to go with his 61.9 percent completion ratio. As good as that is, he has to avoid being sacked, as he’s been sacked 2.6 times per game thus far.
Connecticut Betting Trends:
Huskies are 4-1 ATS vs teams with winning records, 19-7 ATS in their last 26 following an ATS loss, 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 following an SU win.
RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights are a perfect 4-0 this season with wins over Tulane, Howard, South Florida and Arkansas.
The win over South Florida was the most impressive, beating the Big East rival 23-13 in Tampa. It was done behind the strength of Jawan Jamison’s running, as the Jr. RB ran for 151 yards on 41 carries, his biggest workload of the season. He’s had 100+ yards in every game so far, and has scored two rushing TDs and a receiving TD on the year.
QB Gary Nova has thrown 74 of 124 on the year for 962 yards already. His completion ratio isn’t particularly high at 59 percent, but he’s thrown 9 TDs to his 2 INTs and has a QB rating of 145.6. His main three targets have been Tim Wright (18 receptions for 228 yards), Brandon Coleman (207 yards on 12 receptions) and Mark Harrison (165 yards on 17 receptions). Coleman accounts for 5 of Nova’s 9 passing touchdowns, too.
Rutgers doesn’t rank much higher than middle of the road in passing yardage (55th in the nation) and rushing yardage (74th), but their defense is the 10th best in the country, allowing only 12.8 points per game, and also helping account for the low total of 40.5 points set by college football oddsmakers.
Rutgers Betting Trends:
Scarlet Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 following a bye week, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after giving up 280+ passing yards in previous game, 7-2 ATS in their last 9 following an ATS win, and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 October games.
Want to crush the bookies? Make sure to check out our paid pick plans for the 2012 season. Our handicapping team has an excellent track record of lining people’s pockets, so get in on the gravy train!
