The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Rutgers is favored by 1 point on the spread with a moneyline of -115. Purdue, meanwhile, enters as a +1 home underdog and is -105 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 58.5 points.
Here’s my Rutgers vs. Purdue prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 25.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Purdue Boilermakers Prediction, Picks
- Rutgers vs. Purdue Pick: Over 58.5
My Purdue vs. Rutgers best bet is on both teams to go over the total. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Rutgers vs Purdue Odds, Lines, Spread
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 58.5 -102o / -118u | -115 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 58.5 -102o / -118u | -105 |
- Rutgers vs Purdue Spread: Rutgers -1.5, Purdue +1.5
- Rutgers vs Purdue Over/Under: 58.5
- Rutgers vs Purdue Moneyline: Rutgers ML -115, Purdue ML -105
Rutgers vs Purdue NCAAF Week 9 Preview
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview
Rutgers has really struggled to get it going in Big Ten play this season. The Scarlet Knights are 0-4 and have surrendered 41 points per game in the process.
The drop-off for this Greg Schiano-coached defense has been nothing short of stunning. Last week, the bottom fell out when Rutgers allowed 750 total yards to Oregon on 12.3 yards per play.
This defense has been challenged by Schiano in practice, but it's not responding to the call. It now ranks as the worst defense in the Big Ten by a wide margin, per PFF.
Offensively, the Knights have been better with the development of Athan Kaliakmanis at quarterback. The senior signal-caller has completed 63% of his passes with 11 touchdown passes, but a lot of that production came early in the season.
Over his last five games, Kaliakmanis has just five passing touchdowns combined.
The ground game has been efficient at times, but it doesn't possess explosiveness, and the running backs don’t routinely rack up chunk plays on the ground.
Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview
Purdue also comes in winless in conference play, as the Boilermakers were overwhelmed by Northwestern in a 19-0 defeat last week.
Malachi Singleton replaced the injured Ryan Browne at quarterback but was ineffective. Every second-half drive for the Boilers ended with a turnover or a failed fourth-down conversion.
This Purdue offense has less talent than any other in the Big Ten. The test this week will be to see if this group can exploit the porous Rutgers defense.
Defensively, Purdue has played pretty well. To its credit, it hasn't quit on the season for head coach Barry Odom.
After getting routinely gashed in Big Ten play and against Notre Dame early on, this defense held both Minnesota and Northwestern under five yards per play.
The pass rush has been effective at times with CJ Nunnally IV and Charles Correa affecting the opposition, but the coverage unit breaks down frequently. That has led to Purdue giving up far too many big plays.
Rutgers vs Purdue NCAAF Week 9 Pick to Bet
This game takes a lot of fortitude to want to watch, but there should be plenty of points.
Both of these teams are desperate for a conference win, and I expect them to pull out all the stops to get it. I like the over, which is currently set at 58.5.
The Purdue offense has shown some flashes this season but has struggled with consistency and turnovers.
The quarterback play should look a little better against a Rutgers defense that ranks 114th in explosiveness allowed and 108th in Finishing Drives allowed.
The Scarlet Knights have forced just seven turnovers this season and are allowing opponents to run for over six yards per carry on the ground.
Purdue ranks 32nd nationally in Rushing Success Rate, and the Boilers do have a legitimate weapon in Devin Mockobee, who should find success while using the run game to set up the pass.
The Rutgers secondary has the worst coverage grades in the Big Ten, per PFF, and the Scarlet Knights are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 68% of passes. They rank 118th in EPA Per Pass allowed and 97th in passing explosiveness allowed.
The front seven doesn't generate a pass rush, and the coverage unit is tasked with locking onto receivers far longer than they can. Without a pass rush to provide resistance in the pocket, it's no wonder this group routinely gets torched through the air.
Rutgers should have some offensive success here with Kaliakmanis throwing the ball to his weapons on the outside.
KJ Duff, Ian Strong and DT Sheffield all possess big-play ability and should be able to register explosive chunk plays against a Purdue defense that struggles in coverage and is the second-worst tackling team in the Big Ten.
There will be explosive plays on both sides, and I imagine both coaches will pull out all the stops to try to pick up this win.
Neither team has a defense that can be relied upon, so we should see plenty of points here.
Pick: Over 58.5
Rutgers vs Purdue Betting Trends to Watch
