Rutgers vs Boston College Odds: Former Conference Rivals are Reunited in 2022 Opener

Boston College Going After Sixth Consecutive Opening Win

Rutgers and Boston College might play in different conferences, but there is plenty of familiarity with the two coaching staffs recruiting many of the same players.

Each squad is trying to work its way up in competitive conferences. Rutgers ranked near the bottom in the Big Ten in both total offense and total defense a season ago and that is why Rutgers struggled to move up in the Big 10 standings football. Meanwhile, Boston College averaged the fewest yards of total offense in the ACC in 2021. That hasn’t stopped the Rutgers vs Boston College odds from favoring the host Eagles.

Boston College had a chance to defeat both Clemson and Florida State last season while Rutgers only lost to eventual Big Ten champion Michigan by seven points so they aren’t too far away from being relevant in their respective conferences.

Boston College has won six straight season openers with Rutgers opening the season 1-0 in each of the last five seasons.

Rutgers (+20000) is tied with Indiana for the longest odds to win the Big Ten title while Boston College (+4000) is tied for the ninth-best odds to win the ACC.

Rutgers vs Boston College Game Information

• • Matchup: Rutgers 5-8 (2-7 in the Big Ten in 2021) Boston College 6-6 (2-6 in the ACC in 2021)
  • Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
  • Date/Time: Saturday, noon ET
  • TV: ACC Network

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers was very aggressive in adding offensive players through the transfer portal. Offensive linemen Mike Ciaffoni (Colorado State), Willie Tyler (Louisiana-Monroe), Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota), and J.D. DiRenzo (Sacred Heart) are among the newcomers. At least three of them are expected to start. Rutgers also added Sean Ryan, who was fourth in receiving yards for West Virginia in 2021, and former Syracuse receiver Taj Harris.

The quarterback situation is interesting. Noah Vedral is the most experienced QB as he led the Scarlet Knights in passing yards in both 2020 and 2021. Gavin Wimsatt is the player generating the buzz in the preseason. He played both high school and college games in 2021 and is viewed as the future of the position. The uncertainty at the most prominent position on the field could be playing a role in the Rutgers vs Boston College odds.

The defense will be led by Avery Young, Christian Izien. A total of 16 sophomores are among the 23 defensive players listed in the two-deep chart.

Boston College Eagles

Boston College has some talent to work with on offense. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec is showing up in the first round in some 2023 mock drafts. Jurkovec failed to match his strong 2020 season as he missed six games and finished with 914 yards while completing only 54% of his passes. He also had more than 50 rushing yards in five of the six games he appeared in.

Speaking of running the ball, Pat Garwo led the Eagles with 1,045 rushing yards. Much of the offensive line he ran behind including 2022 NFL first-round pick Zion Johnson has moved on.

Zay Flowers returns after having 892 yards and 100 catches for 1,638 yards over the last two seasons.

Boston College finished third in the ACC in scoring defense and fourth in total defense. That has played a role in the Rutgers vs Boston College odds. The Eagles return the top four tacklers off of that unit with linebackers Kam Arnold and Vinny DePalma as well as defensive backs Jaiden Woodbey and Josh DeBerry leading the list of returnees.

Rutgers vs Boston College Head to Head

The former conference rivals used to meet on an annual basis, but after Boston College’s 21-10 win at home on Nov. 6, 2004, as a 15.5-point favorite, the teams have met just once. That contest ended with a 30-16 win for visiting Boston College as the Eagles were favored by 7.5 points.

Rutgers vs Boston College Injury Update

RB Aaron Young is questionable. DL Mohamed Toure (knee) and LB Moses Walker (knee) are out for the season for Rutgers.

For Boston College, TE Joey Luchetti and OL Christian Mahogany are out for the season.

Rutgers vs Boston College Betting Preview

Both Rutgers and Boston College got off to solid starts a season ago with Rutgers winning its first three games and Boston College getting out to a 4-0 start. When the Scarlet Knights and Eagles began to venture outside the region, things went in a different direction with Rutgers dropping eight of the last 10 games and Boston College losing six of its last eight games. The Eagles covered in just two of the final seven contests of the season. Seven of the last eight games went under the total.

After covering in each of the first four games, Rutgers was 2-7 against the spread the rest of the way.

The total has gone under in Rutgers last seven road games as well as in seven of Boston College’s last eight games. Perhaps that is why the 48-point total is the third lowest of Saturday’s FBS games. The betting odds College Football list BC as the seven-point favorite.