Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights 9/3/2023 Odds, Picks and Forecast

Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights 9/3/2023 – Northwestern Wildcats and Rutgers Scarlet Knights will face off in an electrifying Week 1 college football showdown at SHI Stadium this Friday evening, promising an electrifying contest that promises a thrill ride of excitement for their respective 2023 seasons. Both sides hope to start strong. This blog post will examine narratives surrounding each side as well as key players that make these matches so unpredictable for fans – offering insight into what fans can anticipate during this anticipated matchup. The college football money line betting odds are updated online for bettors to place their bets on their favorite teams.

Team	SP/RL	TOTAL	ML
Wildcats	+6.5 (-110)	39.5 o (-110)	+200
Scarlet Knights	-6.5 (-110)	39.5 u (-110)	-240

Wheels up ✈️ pic.twitter.com/fY0Znb5sUe

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 2, 2023

David Braun vs Greg Schiano

Northwestern Wildcats have experienced an extremely trying 2022 campaign, posting an unimpressive 1-11 mark and only emerging victorious against Nebraska in their season opener. Unfortunately, subsequent games were marred by offensive struggles and inconsistent play – creating hope in Evanston for a return in 2023 despite any difficulties they have endured in 2022.

One notable upgrade for Northwestern is quarterback Ben Bryant’s arrival after an impressive stint at Cincinnati. Bryant posted more than 3,000 passing yards last season with an outstanding 21:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio; his presence injects much-needed firepower to their offense which recently lost Evan Hull for NFL action; senior running back Cam Porter is expected to fill Hull’s shoes and fill this void left by Evan Hull’s departure.

Although they lost key receivers, Arizona lost several talented ones as well; they did manage to add Cam Johnson from Arizona State as an experienced addition who will bolster the Wildcats receiving corps. Still, their offense will face challenges in terms of finding its rhythm again.

Northwestern displayed glimpses of promise on the defensive front last season, ranking 12th nationally in pass defense. To enhance their defense further, David Braun has joined as their new defensive coordinator, while Bryce Gallagher, who led with 100 tackles last season, returns as one of their key defenders.

Seeking Offensive Redemption in the Big Ten Conference for 2023

Northwestern averaged only 13.8 points per game this past season, ranking them 121st overall and conceding an average of 28.3 points – both numbers that leave plenty of room for improvement as Northwestern looks to make its mark in the Big Ten Conference.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights under Coach Greg Schiano saw 2022 as a period of rebuilding under their guidance, ending up with a 4-8 record that showed some promise but struggled for consistency. For 2023, they aim to surpass four wins and establish themselves as competitive forces within the Big Ten Conference.

Rutgers University’s primary concern in terms of offense lies with their quarterback position: Gavin Wimsatt has been given the responsibility of leading this offense, but he faces the daunting task of exceeding last season’s 757 passing yards and 5-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio with improved production this time around. Rutgers is banking on Wimsatt’s growth and development to be their lynchpin in finding success on offense.

The running game seems more secure, with Kyle Monangai and Samuel Brown V serving as top rushers again this season. Unfortunately, Sean Ryan and Aron Cruickshank’s departure for the NFL has created an empty spot that must be filled, and Chris Long may provide that solution.

NCAA Betting Odds: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -6.5 — Over/Under: 40.5

Scarlet Knights defense remains strong with many returning key players like Deion Jennings (87 tackles last season) as well as key corners who are back for another strong campaign. Rutgers averaged 17.4 points per game in 2018, placing them 124th overall while conceding 29.3 on average – good enough to rank them 93rd! Rutgers relies heavily on its defense to be competitive; should its offense find its footing quickly enough it could exceed expectations and become one of the nation’s elite programs.

Northwestern appears to have an edge in this Week 1 clash due to their addition of quarterback Ben Bryant who brings experience and success. Meanwhile, Rutgers’ offensive under Gavin Wimsatt remains uncertain against Northwestern’s formidable pass defense.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

Rutgers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
Scarlet Knights are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.
Rutgers are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games at home.
Rutgers are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Rutgers’ last 7 games against an opponent in the West Division.
Rutgers has a 6-2 ATS record in their last 8 games played in September.
Rutgers has covered the spread in their last 5 games played in week 1.

Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Pick

The Wildcats can use this matchup as an opportunity to kick off their season on an encouraging note, while the Scarlet Knights must work through offensive obstacles in order to achieve victory. With an expected spread of 6.5 points favoring Northwestern, this should be an even contest – however Northwestern may use its potential offensive prowess to secure the win. Northwestern and Rutgers’ Week 1 college football showdown marks an exciting battle to begin their respective seasons on the right foot and can provide us with insight into where each program stands in terms of future prospects. Football fans should expect an exciting matchup that may set the tone for both programs moving forward in 2019. Based on the statistics and the college football betting data, the odds are in favor of the Wildcats to win this game.

Score Prediction: Wildcats 36, Knights 23.