Saturday, September 27, 2014

High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Rutgers (3-1) is enjoying a nice return to prominence after a 6-6 season a year ago. The Scarlet Knights are about to enter into the meat of their inaugural year of Big Ten conference play but would love to get one more notch in the win column before facing Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin in consecutive games. The visiting Tulane Green Wave might be able to oblige that request as they've struggled to a 1-3 beginning to the season.

Tulane's only win came two weeks ago in a 35-20 defeat of Southeast Louisiana. Other than that they've been dominated in a tough early season schedule – a 38-31 2OT loss to Tulsa, a 38-21 defeat to Georgia Tech, and a 47-13 blasting by the upstart Duke Blue Devils a week ago. The Green Wave have a moderately effective ground game with freshman Sherman Badie running for 349 yards and 2 TD on the year but for the most part are struggling on both sides of the ball. The passing attack is 79th in the nation behind another freshman Tanner Lee (47.4%, 833 yards, 8TD/9INT) and the defense is yielding 35.8 PPG, 108th in the country.

Rutgers already has a Big Ten loss under their belt, falling 13-10 to Penn State two weeks ago. Other than that though, the Scarlet Knights have rattled off an impressive 2014 winning 41-38 against Washington State in Seattle and a 31-24 win over Navy in Annapolis last weekend. In that game against Navy, the Scarlet Knight defense held a Midshipmen running attack that had been averaging 345 YPG to just 171 yards. In addition, the Rutgers offense has great balance with 912 yards in the air to go with 710 on the ground.

On paper the advantages all seem to lie on the Rutgers side of the ball, from offense to defense to home field advantage. Oddsmakers have made them double digit favorites and it appears the Scarlet Knights should enter that tough Big Ten stretch at 4-1.

Tulane Green Wave Betting Trends

Tulane Green Wave are 1-3-0 Against the Spread

Tulane Green Wave are 4-0-0 against the Over/Under

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 3-1-0 Against the Spread

Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 1-2-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Tulane Green Wave

No injuries to report at this time

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

09/22/14 WR Andre Patton Upper Body is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Tulane
09/22/14 OL Chris Muller Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/22/14 DB Gareef Glashen Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/22/14 LB Kevin Snyder Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 RB Paul James Knee out for season
09/21/14 WR Ruhann Peele Upper Body "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 Backup RB Savon Huggins Upper Body "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 DB Delon Stephenson Leg injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 OL Jacquis Webb Lower Body "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 TE Logan Lister Lower Body "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/21/14 DB Nadir Barnwell Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Tulane
09/08/14 DB Kiy Hester Personal out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Rutgers

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald