Fading Nittany Lions Look for Rebound against Visiting Scarlet Knights

The Penn State Nittany Lions will try to halt a two-game SU slide that has devastated their national championship aspirations when they host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday in a Big Ten East matchup at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions fell to 7-2 SU with last week’s 27-24 loss at Michigan State as 10-point chalk while Rutgers posted a second upset win in three weeks with a 31-24 win over Maryland as a 3.5-point home underdog.

Last week’s loss to the Spartans has plummeted Penn State nine spots to No. 16 on the AP Top 25, all but ending their College Football Playoff hopes. However, the Nittany Lions are unbeaten SU in 12 home dates, 8-2-2 ATS. Penn State also rides a 14-game SU win streak when favored by 30 or more at home, surrendering a meager 4.4 points per game over their past seven, including a pair of shutout wins this season in which they outscored opponents by an overall 108-0 margin.

The Scarlet Knights are unbeaten ATS during their current 3-1 SU run. Conversely, Rutgers has struggled on the road, going 1-7 SU in its past eight, but has covered in three straight away contests, including a 35-14 loss at Michigan as a 22.5-point underdog two weeks ago. That ended the squad’s seven-game ATS winless slide when pegged as a road underdog of 20 or more points.

Rutgers has recorded just two SU wins in 27 meetings with Penn State since 1918, and has been dominated by the Nittany Lions in their past two clashes, falling 39-0 as a 25-point home underdog last year and 28-3 as an 8.5-point underdog in its last visit to Happy Valley in 2015.

Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

Betting fans going with the Penn State Nittany Lions in this game found them listed as 28-point favorites on the betting odds menu at Sportsbook earlier in the week.

Handicapping prediction models run by the computers at OddsShark picked a 42-14 result in favor of the Nittany Lions. Check the picks page or matchup report during the week as factors may cause that prediction to be re-run. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Penn State Nittany Lions Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will look to cover ATS vs their hosts on Saturday, as they are 7-2 versus the spread this season, while the Penn State Nittany Lions are 6-2-1 ATS. Rutgers is 5-4 against the OVER/UNDER total, while Penn State is 4-5 versus the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Penn State vs Rutgers injuries news.

This game matches up the No. 3 (Penn State Nittany Lions) and the No. 128 (Rutgers Scarlet Knights) teams in the league, according to our current NCAA football Power Rankings at OddsShark.

Statistical Matchup

Offensively, the game matches up the Penn State Nittany Lions' No. 18-ranked offense (38 PPG) against a Rutgers Scarlet Knights defense that ranks No. 55 at 24.89 PPG. The Nittany Lions passing attack has averaged 291.33 yards per game, more than the Scarlet Knights give up through the air (213.11 YPG on average).

In comparing defenses, the Scarlet Knights own the league's No. 93-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 205.67 yards per game when on the road. Penn State, on the other hand, rates No. 82 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

Gus Edwards went over the 100-yard mark (109) in his team's latest effort as Rutgers defeated Maryland by a score of 31-24 on Saturday.

Trace McSorley handled the Spartans defense in his team's most recent action, throwing for 381 yards, but Penn State still lost to Michigan State 27-24.

Next Betting Matchups

Rutgers at Indiana, Saturday, November 18
Penn State home to Nebraska, Saturday, November 18