Northwestern at Rutgers College Football Picks and Predictions 10/20/2018

Saturday, October 20, 2018

High Point Solutions Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to High Point Solutions Stadium to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 21 point favorites. The Wildcats have an ATS record of 3-2-1 while their over/under record is 4-2-0. The Scarlet Knights have an over/under record of 3-4-0 and they are 2-5-0 against the spread.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 4-2-0 against the over/under

The Northwestern Wildcats are 3-2-1 against the spread

Important Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 3-4-0 against the over/under

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 2-5-0 against the spread

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

10/14/18 K Charlie Kuhbander Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Rutgers
10/14/18 DB Greg Newsome II Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Rutgers
10/14/18 LB Nate Hall Lower Body is questionable Saturday vs Rutgers
10/14/18 LB Nathan Fox Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Rutgers
09/24/18 RB Jeremy Larkin Undisclosed is out for season

Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Injuries

10/14/18 LB CJ Onyechi Suspension is questionable Saturday vs Northwestern
10/14/18 DL Elorm Lumor Knee is questionable Saturday vs Northwestern
10/14/18 OL Mike Lonsdorf Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Northwestern
09/25/18 DB Blessuan Austin Knee is out for season
09/02/18 DL Tijuan Mason Leg is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Northwestern Wildcats are 102nd in Division 1 in points scored with 152. They have run 478 plays this season for 2,343 yards, which ranks them 18th in the nation in total offense. The Wildcats average 4.9 yards per play, which is 117th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 139 1st downs this year, placing them 56th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Northwestern has run for 419 yards as a team, which ranks 128th in the country. They've run 187 times, averaging 2.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Wildcats have been penalized on offense 17 times for 176 yards so far this season, which has them 129th in the nation in penalties. Clayton Thorson has thrown for 1,755 yards this season. He has completed 159 passes on 254 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating this year is 126.8. He averages 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 6.4 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Northwestern is 60th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 157. They have surrendered a total of 2,428 yards on D, which is 68th in Division 1. The Wildcats are ranked 86th in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Opposing offenses have completed 136 passes on 208 attempts against the Northwestern Wildcats defense this season, placing them 102nd and 79th in the country. The Northwestern pass defense has also given up a total of 1,527 yards through the air, which is 77th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 212 attempts for 901 yards this year, putting them in 50th place in D-1 against the run. The Wildcats have committed 53 penalties for 515 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 119th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Northwestern is ranked 24th in the nation in punt returns with 14. They've accumulated 81 punt return yards and average 5.8 yards per return, which is 97th in college football. They have returned 10 kicks for 219 yards on special teams, ranking 93rd in kick return yardage. The Wildcats average 22 yards per kick return and they are 93rd in the country in all-purpose yards with 2,643. The Northwestern Wildcats have attempted 8 field goals this season and made 4, which is 108th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 50%. Northwestern Wildcats kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 18 for 18 this year. Their punters have totaled 1,294 yards on 33 punts, averaging 39 yards per punt. That places them 102nd in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Scarlet Knights have run for 941 yards as a team, which ranks 96th in the nation. They've run 246 times, averaging 3.8 yards per rush as a unit. The Scarlet Knights have been penalized on offense 48 times for 470 yards so far this year, which has them 31st in the country in penalties. They are 127th in Division 1 in points scored with 106. They have run 472 plays this year for 1,971 yards, which ranks them 114th in the nation in total offense. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights average 4.2 yards per play, which is 127th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 121 1st downs this season, ranking them 101st overall as an offensive unit. Artur Sitkowski has completed 88 throws while attempting 176 passes for a completion percentage of 50%. He has passed for 758 yards this year. He averages 0.8 adjusted yards per throw and 4.3 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 74.8.

Defensive Statistics

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights rush defense has given up 279 attempts for 1,659 yards this season, putting them in 124th place in the country against the run. They have had 57 penalties for 556 yards on defense this year. That places them 126th in Division 1. Rutgers is 117th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 252. They have given up a total of 2,982 yards on D, which is 112th in the nation. The Scarlet Knights are 110th in yards per play allowed with 6.4. Opponent offenses have completed 114 throws on 189 attempts against the Rutgers defense this season, ranking them 57th and 56th in the country. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,323 yards in the air, which is 50th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have tried 6 field goals this year and made 5, which is 82nd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 83%. Rutgers kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 13 for 13 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,823 yards on 43 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranks them 50th in the NCAA in punting average. Rutgers is 103rd in the country in punt returns with 7. They've totaled 40 punt return yards and average 5.7 yards per return, which is 100th in D-1. They have returned 17 kicks for 339 yards on special teams, which puts them 48th in kick return yardage. The Scarlet Knights average 20 yards per kick return and they are 119th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 2,350.

Who will win tonight's Wildcats/Scarlet Knights college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Scarlet Knights +21

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