It’s a new era of Cornhusker football, and the Nebraska vs. Rutgers betting preview is completely indicative of that. Sure, historically, the Huskers should be heavily favored over the Scarlet Knights. But recent history states this game is actually closer than most think. Which betting odds, DFS picks, and fantasy football players should you be mindful of? The official Nebraska vs. Rutgers prediction gives you all the answers.
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Nebraska vs. Rutgers betting preview
- Spread: Nebraska (-3)
- Moneyline: Nebraska (-145); Rutgers (+125)
- Over/Under: 50.5 points
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
- Predicted weather at kick: 67 degrees, clear, 6-7 mph winds
It’s a clear night for football, and first place in the Big Ten West is on the line for Nebraska. If they get it done will be completely up to a few factors. But before we get into that, let’s roll with our fantasy and DFS plays ahead of our prediction.
Top DFS picks and fantasy plays
Here are the players and their values according to FanDuel ahead of their Friday night clash.
- QB Casey Thompson, Nebraska: $9,000
- QB Evan Simon, Rutgers: $7,500
- RB Anthony Grant, Nebraska: $9,400
- RB Samuel Brown V, Rutgers: $6,500
- RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers: $5,800
- RB Al-Shadee Salaam, Rutgers: $5,500
- RB Jamier Wright-Collins, Nebraska: $5,000
- WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska: $8,800
- WR Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers: $7,200
- WR Oliver Martin, Nebraska: $6,300
- WR Sean Ryan, Rutgers: $5,900
- WR Marcus Washington, Nebraska: $5,700
- WR Shameen Jones, Rutgers: $5,300
- WR Alante Brown, Nebraska: $5,100
- TE Johnny Langan, Rutgers: $5,500
- TE Travis Vokolek, Nebraska: $4,500
DFS plays in this game are relatively simple when assessing the rest of the games on Friday night. With the only single-game entry on FanDuel residing in Memphis, you’re at the whim of other bigger-name players across the board to fill your roster. However, you have one must-play from this game.
Anthony Grant slides into Friday’s RB1 role with a favorable matchup against a Rutgers defense that is fresh off allowing five rushing touchdowns to Ohio State RB Miyan Williams. Grant has shown to be able to bounce off contact, create plenty of yards on his own, and carry the rock 30-plus times a game. He may have to do that with Rutgers’ pass defense limiting the deep shots well this year. Rutgers had been good previously against the run, but the roadmap the Buckeyes showcased and the similar offense that Ohio State runs sets up Grant for a big day.
If you are hurting for a wide receiver play, Trey Palmer or Aron Cruickshank seem like good bets, but buyer beware. Instead, the safer play is Oliver Martin or Sean Ryan due to their lower ticket price and ability to work over the middle of the field and underneath safeties. Each defense has shown the ability to cover the deep middle and outside, while they have minor discrepancies on throws to the intermediate level of the field and in between the numbers.
Start Grant in all formats and stay away from the Rutgers quarterback situation. Johnny Langan is a solid tight-end play in all formats due to his red-zone targets and general usage in this offensive scheme.
Prediction for Nebraska vs. Rutgers
It’s a unique situation for the Cornhuskers to be in this season. Just two weeks removed from firing head coach Scott Frost, this team finds themselves one game out of first place in the Big Ten West. With a win against Rutgers, they’ll own first place outright, at least until Saturday. Can they get it done? Yes. How will they get it done? That’s the bigger question.
The Scarlet Knights’ defense has been extremely susceptible to the big play on the ground. But the Ohio State performance was the first time they had allowed multiple rushing scores in a single game this season. They’ve set the edge well but were gashed by OSU’s zone-blocking attack, a similar rushing attack to that of the Cornhuskers.
Grant has the patience to wait for his blocking to set up and the contact balance to shake off arm tackles. Rutgers hasn’t given up a ton elsewhere this season but that recent poor performance on the round gives pause to their continued success now that Big Ten play is in high gear.
[bet-promo id=”178311″ ]On offense, Rutgers has the benefit of going up against the Nebraska defense, however. This will make for an interesting matchup stylistically, as the Rutgers offense likes to get horizontal before getting vertical. Nebraska has the athletes to stretch the field from sideline to sideline and should be able to limit big plays from happening from the short and intermediate areas.
The shaky quarterback situation for the Scarlet Knights and pass-rushers that Nebraska will bring to the table should make for one of Friday’s most favorable matchups.
Prediction: Nebraska 31, Rutgers 17