Gator Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Rutgers College Football Picks

This year's Gator Bowl features the Wake Forest Demon Deacons taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Find out who will come out on top and our best bets with our Wake Forest-Rutgers picks.

Wake Forest had one of the most productive seasons in program history this year. The Demon Deacons (6-7 ATS) used a potent offense to take over the ACC for the majority of the year, and they reached the ACC Championship in the process.

They expected to play the Texas A&M Aggies, but they had to opt out due to COVID cases and injuries. While some games are getting canceled, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl found a replacement. Wake Forest will play Rutgers. Rutgers (6-6 ATS) failed to become bowl eligible, but they have a great chance to prove themselves as an alternate.

Here are my picks and predictions for the Gator Bowl matchup between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (odds via Caesars; pick confidence based on a one-to-five-star scale).

Wake Forest vs. Rutgers Game Info

Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 31,, 11 a.m. ETTV: ESPNLocation: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FLWeather: 81 degrees, mix of sun and clouds

Wake Forest vs. Rutgers Odds Analysis

The odds for this game are hard to track. Wake Forest first expected to play Texas A&M, which would have been a close game. In fact, the Demon Deacons were 3-point underdogs in this one. However, they are now favored by 14.5 points after they opened as 12-point favorites.

The over/under is firmly at 61.5. Wake Forest has a potent offense, but they struggled to stop opponents due to the weak defense they played. This led to the Over hitting six times this year, which is why we still have a 61.5-point totals line.

Wake Forest Betting Preview

Record: 10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS, 6-7 O/UKey Players: QB Sam Hartman, WR A.T. Perry, RB Christian Beal-SmithNotable Trend: 2-3 ATS in last 5 gamesBowl History: 9-6 all-time record; 2020: Lost 42-28 to Wisconsin in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest has hit the Over in six games, but they usually have incredibly high total lines. Between the potent offense and the lackluster defense, we’ve seen plenty of barn-burner games. That includes a win against Army that saw a combined 126 points.

Opt-outs and transfers have been minimal, so Wake Forest should be fully prepared for this game. As long as they don’t overlook the opponent, they are in a position to dominate.

Rutgers Betting Preview

Record: 5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS, 5-7 O/UKey Players: QB Noah Vedral, WR Bo MeltonNotable Trend: 2-6 ATS in last 8 gamesBowl History: 6-4 all-time record; 2020: DNP

Rutgers does not deserve to play in a bowl, but they opted in when Texas A&M opted out. Their mentality for this game will determine how this one plays out. If they are focused and want to prove themselves, they can keep this close. If they were already looking ahead to the holiday before this, they could get run off the field.

Rutgers has a low ceiling because of the conference they play in. They were 2-7 in conference play, but 3-0 in non-conference play. Getting to a bowl game was about as good as they could hope for when they started the season. Still, there isn’t much you can do against a superior opponent. They are in a bad spot.

Wake Forest vs. Rutgers Betting Picks

Wake Forest -14.5 (-110) ??Over 61.5 (-110) ????Wake Forest first half moneyline (-400) ???1st half Over 31 points (+100) ??Wake Forest Moneyline and Over 61.5 (+118) ???

SEE ALSO: College Football Bowl Predictions

Wake Forest vs. Rutgers Predictions

Wake Forest -14.5 (-110)

It’s hard to trust Wake Forest to cover a double-digit spread with their defense, but Rutgers brings little to the table offensively. They have one of the worst offenses in college football by total yards per game and points per game, and their own mistakes usually dictate games.

Wake Forest retains most of its weapons in this game, including Biletnikoff Award semi-finalist A.T. Perry. They have a potent offense that averages 41.2 ppg and that will be hard to stop as this game progresses. They don't have any notable opt-outs currently.

Rutgers might have some momentum early, but they thought their season was over. It’s hard to get back into that mentality after thinking you’ve played your last snap.

Over 61.5 (-110)

Wake Forest usually has higher total lines, which is why they are 6-7 on O/U picks this year. Still, they bring back the pieces of an elite offense. The defense will give up a few scores, but Wake Forest has what it takes to score at least 49 by itself.

Wake Forest is coming off of an elite 10-3 season, and they want to end it on a high note. That means that they will be focused. This isn’t a disappointing game for them. They can finish with a bowl win and end 2021 on a high note after losing their last two bowl games.

Wake Forest won’t let up if this becomes a blowout. They’ll add style points. I’m very confident in the Over for this one. Don't be scared off by the high total.

Wake Forest first half moneyline (-400)

I don’t like the value here, but the props are scarce for this game. Between the potential of transfers and the changes from COVID, it’s hard to find lines besides the traditional spread, moneyline, and totals. However, Caesars has the moneyline for the first half. If I believe Wake Forest covers, I have to take them to win the first half.

Rutgers may get a couple of touchdowns early, but they will run out of steam quickly. Wake Forest is too much to handle, and Rutgers doesn’t have the personnel to keep up.

Again, the value here isn’t ideal. If anything, put it on a parlay. Still, I like it to pay off.

1st half Over 31 points (+100)

This is a ton of points for one half, but both teams have the potential to start off strong. Even if Rutgers fails, Wake Forest could score at least four touchdowns in the first half. They average 23.2 points per first half, fourth in the nation.

Rutgers may have some tricks up its sleeve for the first half. They’ll need a strong start to stand a chance of being competitive in this game. It may be a fake punt or a trick play. They are playing with house money, so they could do anything in the first half.

The value here is better than other picks. 31 is a tough number because it’s exactly four touchdowns and a field goal. It will take another score to hit the Over, but the value justifies the risk.

Wake Forest Moneyline and Over 61.5 (+118)

Unless a rush of COVID cases hits Wake Forest, they should easily win this game. Again, Rutgers wasn’t eligible to play in any bowl game but they will meet up in this game. It's a big mismatch as the spread suggests.

The value of the moneyline isn’t there by itself, but adding it to a parlay makes sense. I trust Wake Forest moneyline and the Over by themselves so turning this into a positive one without much risk.

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Wake Forest-Rutgers picks made on 12/27/2021 at 1:14 p.m. ET.