Rutgers vs. Indiana Odds
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -115 | 43.5 +100o / -120u | +230 |
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -105 | 43.5 +100o / -120u | -300 |
If sports betting didn't exist and readers only tuned in to look at breakdowns of various matchups, I can't say many would be lined up to read a preview of this one.
Rutgers and Indiana are a combined 1-11 in Big Ten this season, and both have really struggled in recent weeks.
Fortunately, we live in a world where there are odds for every game and there is always money to be made. Rutgers heads west to Bloomington to take on an Indiana team that has not won since late September.
For the Hoosiers, nothing has seemed to go right in 2021. It started in the opener, when Michael Penix Jr. threw a pick-six less than two minutes into the contest against Iowa. From there, injuries and other mistakes have led to a season that IU will hope to soon forget.
Rutgers' 2021 campaign started with a little bit more promise by winning each of its first three games. Big Ten play has been a different story, with most of the losses coming by double digits and just one win, a 20-14 victory at Illinois.
Can Indiana finally grab its first conference victory, or will Rutgers get it done on the road to keep its slim chances at a bowl game alive? Time to dig in.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers Offense Has Unsurprisingly Struggled
The Rutgers offense put up only 112 total yards last week at home against Wisconsin. That Badgers defense is among the stingiest in the entire country, but that minute number of total offense has a lot to do with the various issues the Scarlet Knights have offensively.
There isn't much that this group can do on a consistent basis. The passing attack has quite literally been nonexistent. Quarterback Noah Vedral has not thrown a touchdown in the Scarlet Knights' last two games.
Running back Isaih Pacheco has been able to get it going on the ground in a couple of games this season, but he is still averaging less than four yards per carry on the season. A lot of that can be credited to an offensive line that ranks outside the top 65 in both Line Yards and pass blocking.
Scarlet Knights Defense Solid Against the Pass
Defensively, the Scarlet Knights have actually had some success throughout the course of the year. In its four wins, Rutgers has held opponents to 14 points or fewer, and the unit performed admirably on the road against Michigan in a tight game back in late September.
Rutgers has been very efficient defending the pass, and it is also doing a nice job of keeping offenses out of the end zone. The Scarlet Knights come in at 26th in Defensive Finishing Drives, which could go a long way against an Indiana offense that really struggles to score touchdowns.
This is a matchup on Saturday that the Rutgers' defense should be able to find some success in.
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Offense Remains Messy
The Hoosiers' offensive attack has been a mess for most of the season. Three quarterbacks have started at least two games, and all have struggled to find consistent success.
Penix and Jack Tuttle have both gone down with injury in recent weeks, but it looks like one or both could be available this week. Penix had a very solid 2020 campaign, but he has never looked like the same player coming off the ACL injury.
Wide receiver Ty Fryfogle remains an explosive playmaker on the outside, but the problem has been nobody can get him the football. Look for the Hoosiers to do everything they can to get him and tight end Peyton Hendershot involved early in this one.
Hoosiers Defense Receiving No Help From Offense
Indiana has plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. The problem has been that the offense has been inefficient to the point that the defense is on the field nonstop and wears down.
The Hoosiers defensive front still ranks 32nd in Line Yards, and I expect it to do everything it can to shut down the Rutgers ground game.
Head coach Tom Allen and defensive coordinator Charlton Warren will force Vedral to beat them through the air, likely by being aggressive through blitzing.
Rutgers vs. Indiana Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Rutgers and Indiana match up statistically:
Rutgers Offense vs. Indiana Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 74 | 77 |  |
| Line Yards | 67 | 32 | |
| Pass Success | 117 | 97 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 78 | 116 | |
| Big Play | 118 | 73 | |
| Havoc | 98 | 93 | |
| Finishing Drives | 99 | 103 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Indiana Offense vs. Rutgers Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 101 | 34 | |
| Line Yards | 119 | 52 | |
| Pass Success | 122 | 14 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 68 | 100 | |
| Big Play | 131 | 77 | |
| Havoc | 78 | 56 | |
| Finishing Drives | 88 | 26 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 110 | 24 |
| Coverage | 112 | 80 |
| Middle 8 | 109 | 98 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 86 | 82 |
| Plays per Minute | 70 | 73 |
| Rush Rate | 55.6% (59) | 52.5% (83) |
Data via College Football Data, FootballOutsiders, SP+, PFF and SportSource Analytics.
Rutgers vs. Indiana Betting Pick
This line opened with Indiana favored by just under a touchdown, which may have come as a bit of a surprise to some, but I think the Hoosiers finally get it done this week.
Allen has kept this team playing hard throughout the losing streak, and I think there is a lot of internal motivation to get off the schneid.
I believe there’s a real chance you could see either Penix or Tuttle available under center for the Hoosiers, which would give them a boost offensively.
Senior linebacker Micah McFadden and company will be able to limit the Rutgers rushing attack, and the Scarlet Knights really struggle to move the ball through the air.
Give me the Hoosiers to break through and win this one by a touchdown or more.
Pick: Indiana -6.5
