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Nebraska vs. Rutgers Picks, Predictions College Football Week 6: Friday Big Ten Clash

Henry John

Last Updated: October 7, 2022 4:46 AM EDT • 3 min 8 sec read.

Anthony Grantof the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs through a hole against the Indiana Hoosiers in the fourth quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Anthony Grantof the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs through a hole against the Indiana Hoosiers in the fourth quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images via AFP.

Nebraska improved to 2-3 straight up with a win over Indiana last week and now visits Rutgers in Week 6. Check out our top Nebraska-Rutgers picks below.

The Cornhuskers beat the Hoosiers 35-21 last week and covered a -6.5 spread in the process. It was the second straight game in which Nebraska played to the Under. The Scarlet Knights dropped back-to-back games entering Week 6 while going 0-1-1 against the spread and 2-0 to the Over. Nebraska won the 2020 head-to-head meeting 28-21 on the road.

Here are our college football picks for the Week 6 matchup between Nebraska and Rutgers (odds via BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Nebraska vs. Rutgers Game Info

Date: Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Weather: 55 degrees, 9.5% chance of precipitation, 10-12-mph winds N

Nebraska vs. Rutgers Odds

Nebraska vs. Rutgers Odds Analysis

The spread has grown from Nebraska -2.5 to -3 as of Friday morning. However, this is reverse line movement as 52% of the tickets and 53% of the handle support Rutgers.

There's also reverse movement on the total. The Over has drawn 53% of the tickets and 73% of the handle but the consensus line has dropped from 52 to 50.

Nebraska vs. Rutgers Picks

Ne B105

Nebraska vs. Rutgers ATS Pick

Nebraska -3 (-110) ★★★★

Bettors really have to consider what this line might’ve been based on the preseason power ratings of these teams. After a season filled with close losses, Nebraska was widely expected to improve dramatically. Instead, head coach Scott Frost didn’t even make it to October with an embarrassing home loss to Georgia Southern serving as the last straw.

For as ugly as the first month of the season was in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers were able to get back on track last week against Indiana. Tailback Anthony Grant had a huge game on the ground and could have similar success against a Rutgers defense that was absolutely gashed by Ohio State last week.

That said, Nebraska will have to earn everything offensively. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is a defensive guy, and the Scarlett Knights have been feisty on that side of the ball so far this season. 

The real thing that separates these two teams is the anemic state of the Scarlet Knights’ offense. Rutgers lacks any sort of competent passing attack which is massive in this matchup given how awful Nebraska’s secondary has been. 

Because the Scarlet Knights do not have the goods to exploit this defensive weakness, it’s tough to envision them scoring enough points to keep the final margin within a field goal.

Nebraska vs. Rutgers O/U Pick

Under 48.5 (-105) ★★★

The decision to bet the Under follows many of the same discussion points outlined with our ATS pick above. Even though the line has already moved upward of 3 points, it’s still a lot to ask these two teams to combine for more than 48 points.  

While Casey Thompson and the Nebraska offense have the talent to score in bunches, this figures to be easier said than done against a solid defensive opponent. Rutgers will certainly provide more resistance than what Indiana was able to give the Cornhuskers last week. 

To date, the Scarlet Knights are actually a top-35 defense when it comes to both opponent rushing yards (114.8) and passing yards (201.8) on a per-game basis. Provided that Rutgers can prevent Nebraska from breaking off multiple big plays, the defense figures to more than hold its own.

To say that Nebraska’s defense has been a disappointment so far this season would be an understatement. The Cornhuskers enter Friday’s contest giving up more than 200 rushing yards per game and over 300 through the air. However, last week’s effort against Indiana was certainly a step in the right direction.

At this juncture, it’s much easier to trust Nebraska’s defense to improve than it is to trust Rutgers to suddenly bust out offensively. Heck, even Temple held the Scarlet Knights to just 201 yards of total offense a few weeks ago.

Nebraska vs. Rutgers Prop Pick

Rutgers team total: Under 23.5 (-120) ★★★

In four games against FBS-level competition this season, Rutgers has yet to score more than 22 points. What’s more, that output came all the way back in Week 1 in a win over Boston College. In each of the last three weeks, the Scarlet Knights have been held to 16 points or less! As such, it’s no surprise to find this team total juiced to the Under.

For as awful as Nebraska has been defensively so far this season, the unit comes in off its best performance to date one week ago. The Cornhuskers only returned five starters from last year’s defense that allowed less than 23 points per game. That lack of experience certainly showed early in the season. As time goes on, this unit will continue to improve.

Where to Bet on Nebraska vs. Rutgers Picks

Nebraska-Rutgers picks made 10/5/2022 at 12:54 p.m. ET

Written By:
Henry John
Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.