by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Sep 28, 2022
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Where to watch: Big Ten Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
FanDuel: Ohio State -40.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
Rutgers: 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
No. 3 Ohio State: 4-0 (1-0 Big Ten)
What a big week and some fun shake up in the top 25, as we enter Week 5 of the college football campaign. And what a week it was for our own Wayne Root with a 7-1-0 stint to continue what has been a strong start for our champion handicappers through the early stages of this college football season. But now things are going to get interesting with conference play underway and some big-time matchups in the coming weeks. You're going to want to follow our top-notch handicappers if you want to get on this action. Make sure you visit our Best Bets page to find out more.
Rutgers - Ohio State preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Rutgers: lost 27-10 vs. Iowa
Ohio State: won 52-21 vs. Wisconsin
The good fortune for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights finally came to an end last week in a 27-10 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes for their first loss of the season. It was to be expected because Iowa’s defense literally gives up nothing for a majority of a game. And with Rutgers hanging around the bottom of the barrel for the longest time, it’s no surprise that an offense that already has some serious questions about itself would struggle at home against a tough defense. It’s not often that the losing team’s quarterback more than outplays the winning QB, but Evan Simon outplayed Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras so hard. Simon had 300 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Rutgers lost the turnover battle 3-0 and that’s all that needed to happen to lose the game. At the end of the day, the Scarlet Knights just aren’t ready for the big time. A win over Iowa would’ve been a great confidence boost, but the program might not be there just yet.
The good fortune for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights finally came to an end last week in a 27-10 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes for their first loss of the season. It was to be expected because Iowa’s defense literally gives up nothing for a majority of a game. And with Rutgers hanging around the bottom of the barrel for the longest time, it’s no surprise that an offense that already has some serious questions about itself would struggle at home against a tough defense. It’s not often that the losing team’s quarterback more than outplays the winning QB, but Evan Simon outplayed Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras so hard. Simon had 300 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Rutgers lost the turnover battle 3-0 and that’s all that needed to happen to lose the game. At the end of the day, the Scarlet Knights just aren’t ready for the big time. A win over Iowa would’ve been a great confidence boost, but the program might not be there just yet.
"We turned the ball over and when you do that, you know, it rewrites the story immediately," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said.
The second Schiano run at Rutgers is starting to show some promise, but in order to stack up with the rest of the teams in the Big Ten, it’s still going to take some time. While Rutgers should feel good about winning those first three games, it’s about to get a bit eye-popping over the next little bit, and it starts with this Saturday’s game.
Just when we think that the Ohio State Buckeyes are going to fall off any time soon as it pertains to if they are for real, they bounce back against lesser competition and dominate. Not that it should be a question if Ohio State dominates against the likes of Toledo and Arkansas State, but to put up 52 against Wisconsin in their Big Ten opener last week I think speaks volumes for how well prepared this group is as the season unfolds. It was quarterback C.J. Stroud once again looking incredible in an efficient day, going 17 of 27 for 281 yards and five touchdowns, and Emeka Egbuka caught six passes for 118 yards and two of those Stroud touchdowns. Ohio State’s offense dominated in full fashion by outgaining Wisconsin 539-296 and had 28 first downs to Wisconsin’s 11. I know the Badgers don’t have the greatest offense and things of the like, but it’s still refreshing to see this offense just explode like it has been.
"We know how long the season is going to be," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "When you have two guys going back and forth and back and forth who are unselfish, who understands what it is to be a team, that's the key."
The books anticipate a runaway with Ohio State favored by 40 points in this one, and it would make sense. Ohio State has won 22 of its last 25 games straight up and 175-18 in the last 30 years straight up as a home favorite. It’s truly remarkable from a win-loss perspective. Against the spread, however, the Buckeye have been a .500 team as of late, and one would be led to think it’s due to spreads like this one.
Prediction
Despite the high number, Ohio State has dominated so much as of late that an inferior Rutgers team might get stomped on early and often. I don’t anticipate anything big from Rutgers’ secondary, and this should be another big day for the Heisman Trophy frontrunner Stroud. Ohio State by 48
Betting trends
Rutgers is 7-1 ATS in its last eight as a road underdog.
Rutgers is 8-11 ATS in its last 19 conference games.
Ohio State is 12-11 ATS in its last 23 as a favorite.
Ohio State is 10-6 ATS in its last 16 conference games.
Statistical leaders
Rutgers:
Passing: Evan Simon -- 566 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Kyle Monangai -- 157 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Aron Cruickshank -- 156 yards, 2 TD
Ohio State:
Passing: C.J. Stroud -- 1,222 yards, 16 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: TreVeyon Henderson -- 318 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Emeka Egbuka -- 442 yards, 5 TD
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Ohio State Buckeyes prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college football projections and previews.
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.
