by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 11, 2021
Game time: Noon ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Where to watch: Big Ten Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Indiana -7
Season record
Rutgers: 4-5 (1-5 Big Ten)
Indiana: 2-7 (0-6 Big Ten)
Al McMordie put forth a great week on the college gridiron with a 10-4-0 record and is 38-20-1 over the last month. Catch Al’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Rutgers - Indiana preview and analysis
Last week
Rutgers: lost 52-3 vs. Wisconsin
Indiana: lost 29-7 at Michigan
We would like to take this moment to thank Iowa-Minnesota for being the worst Big Ten game of the week so that a small population could enjoy this game.
It’s bound to be even worse than the Hawkeyes and Gophers, but Saturday’s matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights could be a high-scoring affair that would break the multiverse that is college football.
Both teams come in having lost by more than 20 points; the Hoosiers scored only seven against the Michigan Wolverines that was essentially over by halftime. Donovan McCulley finished 10 of 24 for 88 yards, and the quarterback also ran for 37 yards.
Indiana, which finished the game with 195 total yards of offense, gave up 411 to the top-10 Wolverines. Even that is impressive for not throwing any interceptions and still only turning the ball over once.
Chris Childers ran for 34 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, so congratulations on showing up to the game, Mr. Childers.
We can assure you that Rutgers wasn’t any better in its fifth loss in six games. Rutgers made the Wisconsin Badgers look like the greatest college football offense of all time losing 52-3 at home to the surging Badgers.
Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral went 8 of 16 for 81 yards and two interceptions in the loss. Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz looked like Johnny Unitas throwing the ball, throwing for 240 yards on 11 completions and three touchdowns.
That part about high-scoring may not exist. It is likely, however, with how bad these defenses are. Rutgers’ defense has only given up 24.9 points per game, but it’s a group that’s given up 52 points twice in five games against Wisconsin and Ohio State. Indiana’s defense hasn’t been any better allowing 31.3 points per game.
Both groups are giving up less than 400 yards per game, which tells you not all college football games are created equal. Conference games are not at the premium this weekend in the Big Ten, but Rutgers is fighting to become bowl eligible with two more wins. Fortunately for the Scarlet Knights, there’s a chance it can be done.
Prediction
By the law of sports, we need to have a winner because hockey took away ties and we’re not allowed cool things. The best guess I can give is that Rutgers is a more complete team, and that Vedral is better than any 30 quarterbacks Indiana has thrown out there this year. It’s not the Hoosiers’ fault that they’re pulling kids from study hall to be the starting quarterback, but such are times in the Big Ten. Rutgers by 18
Betting trends
Rutgers is 1-3 ATS as an underdog this season.
Rutgers is 1-5 ATS in its last six following a loss of 35 or more to a conference opponent.
Indiana is 6-0 ATS over the past three seasons as a home favorite.
Statistical leaders
Rutgers:
Passing: Noah Vedral -- 1,493 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Isaih Pacheco -- 475 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Bo Melton -- 473 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Olakunle Fatukasi -- 81 tackles, 3.5 sacks
Indiana:
Passing: Michael Penix Jr. -- 939 yards, 4 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Stephen Carr -- 600 yards, 6 TD
Receiving: Peyton Hendershot -- 481 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Micah McFadden -- 6.5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
