College Football Betting – Louisville Cardinals at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
One team that has just become bowl-eligible and another who hopes to be will do battle on Thursday night in the Big East season finale, as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6 SU, 4-6 ATS) play host to the Louisville Cardinals (5-6 SU, 4-6 ATS) in NCAA college football sports betting action that is slated to kick off at 7:30 PM ET at Rutgers Stadium (artificial turf) in Piscataway, NJ.
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: RUTGERS -10, Total 51
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* LOU has covered one of its last five games
* LOU has lost four of its last five games SU
* LOU has covered two of its last six road games
* LOU has lost five of its last six road games SU
* LOU has played six of its last nine road games UNDER the total
* RUT has covered six of its last seven games
* RUT has won its last five games SU
* RUT has covered four of its last five home games
These teams have been going in different directions, to say the least. Louisville has dropped its last four games, all of them by seven points or more. Three of those defeats were to teams who are going bowling – West Virginia, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh – but one of them was also against Syracuse, which rolled up 207 yards on the ground. On the other hand, Rutgers, which got off to a horrible start in losing to the likes of Fresno State, North Carolina and Navy, has come on like gangbusters, with five wins in a row, including a 20-point demolition of Pittsburgh and a 33-point win over South Florida. Regardless of this result, they will probably go to a post-season contest.
Rutgers has been producing on the offensive side, averaging 467 yards in the last four games, although legitimate questions could still be asked about the running game, which has been trying to find itself after the early departure of Ray Rice, who was the .ultimate workhorse, to the NFL. Southpaw quarterback Mike Teel has had a turnaround of sorts. Teel has thrown five interceptions in the last four games, but he’s also completed 68% of his passes during that time, and he has passed for 361, 276, 294 and 359 yards in those outings, which are the four highest yardage totals of his season. He has the hot hand.
Maybe there’s a certain irony to that, because it is Louisville’s quarterback, senior Hunter Cantwell, who was supposed to be the guy NFL scouts were very interested in. Cantwell, though, has not thrived in the role of taking over for Brian Brohm (now with Green Bay). He’s thrown 15 interceptions to go with his 15 touchdown passes, and he’s been good for only 6.5 yards an attempt.
The Cardinals don’t have the go-to receivers Teel possesses. Wide receiver Kenny Britt is another guy who’s been on fire, with 727 yards in his last five games. And with Tiquan Underwood, a second-team All-Big East selection last year, on the other side (despite a season with just 31 catches), double-teaming is difficult.
Louisville’s minus-10 turnover ratio is not impressive. And they don’t get to the passer very much (just 14 sacks). That has led to a pass defense that is just 80th in the country, and it would apparently open things up for Teel. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, frustrated at losing five of his first six games, seems to be making up for lost time by creating margins against floundering opponents. At the moment, disappointing Louisville looks to be one of them. Sure, Louisville needs just this win to become bowl-eligible. But there’s a reason they only have five wins. We’re going to lay the points with Rutgers, the 10-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college football sports betting odds.
