Rutgers vs Indiana Preview: Scarlet Knights Keep Beating Expectations
Rutgers among FBS' most profitable teams ATS (5-1-1)
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will look to continue beating expectations when they visit the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday (noon ET) at Memorial Stadium.
After opening as 3-point favorites, the Scarlet Knights are now up to -5 (-110) on the spread and -195 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers are +5 (-110) on the spread and +165 to win outright. The projected total is 41.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under), down from 43.5.
Can Rutgers take care of business? Read on as we dive into the matchup and break down the odds in our Rutgers vs Indiana preview.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Indiana Hoosiers 
Day/Time:
Location: Memorial Stadium; Bloomington, Ind.
Streaming: BTN
Rutgers vs Indiana Betting Trends
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 5-1-1 against the spread this season. They’re also 6-3 ATS in their last nine games against Indiana. Meanwhile, the Indiana Hoosiers are 3-3 ATS this season and 7-13 over their previous 20 games. The total has gone Over in four of Indiana’s last five games. That’s important to remember when assessing the odds in our Rutgers vs Indiana preview.
Beating the Rutgers vs Indiana Odds
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights rallied from 18 points down in the second half to stun Michigan State 27-24 on Saturday. While the Scarlet Knights improved to 5-2, they failed to cover the NCAAF spread for the first time this season as a 4-point favorite.
Kyle Monangai ran for 148 yards and had a go-ahead 21-yard touchdown run with 8:21 remaining to cap Rutgers’ biggest comeback since 2014, per NCAAF scores. In the process, the Scarlet Knights — who outgained Michigan State 120 to minus-20 in the fourth quarter — surpassed their projected regular-season win total of 4.0. They’re now off to their best start since 2015.
With five games remaining, the Scarlet Knights need only one more victory to reach their first bowl game since 2021. While it seems like a mere formality, the Scarlet Knights do have a challenging slate down the stretch with three consecutive games against ranked opponents: No. 3 Ohio State (Nov. 4), No. 24 Iowa (Nov. 11) and No. 7 Penn State (Nov. 18).
Monangai has been a pleasant surprise for Rutgers, with a team-high 635 yards on 120 carries. He also has seven touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 164.9 rushing yards per game but rank toward the bottom of FBS in passing (164.0 yards per game).
Despite that, the Scarlet Knights have one of the best records ATS (5-1-1) in the country. Only four teams — Oregon, UNLV, Oklahoma, and Penn State — remain unbeaten ATS. Keep that in mind when analyzing our Rutgers vs Indiana preview.
Power Outage
The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off a 52-7 loss to No. 2 Michigan on Saturday. A 32.5-point underdog, the Hoosiers were outscored 31-0 in the second half and finished with 232 yards and four turnovers.
Tayven Jackson threw for only 52 yards and was intercepted two times. He also lost a fumble. The rest of the Hoosiers didn’t fair much better, as they failed to cover the spread for the third straight game.
Expectations remain low for Indiana. With six games remaining, the Hoosiers are only halfway to their projected regular-season win total of 4.0. The Hoosiers haven’t won more than four games since the COVID-shortened season in 2020, when they went 6-2, cracked the AP Top 10 poll, and made the Outback Bowl. Last season, they went 4-8.
The Hoosiers’ offense continues to be a glaring issue. They’ve scored fewer than 20 points in three of their last four games and are averaging only 18.5 points on the season, ranking 123rd out of 130 FBS teams. The Hoosiers are also just 118th in FBS in total yards (317.2 per game). Until they start moving the ball more consistently, they’ll continue to struggle.
Handicapping the Game
Indiana has been one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. That’s not likely to change anytime soon. The Hoosiers are a floundering program playing out the string with a potential lame-duck head coach in Tom Allen. While Rutgers has struggled to mount a balanced offense, the Scarlet Knights are clearly in position at the moment.
With a potential bowl game in reach, the Scarlet Knights can’t afford to slip up against an inferior opponent. Knowing that, look for them to take care of business on the road.
For NCAAF scores and odds, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
