NCAA football Betting Online: With nine bowl game appearances in 10 years heading into 2015, the expectations around the Rutgers’ football program had steadily risen over the past decade. That’s why a 4-8 season last year was so disappointing, and new coach Chris Ash will aim to turn around those fortunes in 2016. The outside expectations for Rutgers in 2016 are low, as the team’s over-under win total sits at only 4.5 wins in NCAA football gambling.
The Scarlet Knights are now navigating a Big Ten slate which makes it difficult to pile up the victories. Rutgers went just 1-7 in conference play a season ago and could face similar hurdles as several teams on its schedule are among the nation’s best. The Scarlet Knights were poor defensively a year ago, giving up 34.9 points per game, and must turn that around if they have any hope for making a bowl game this season.
Cornerback Isaiah Wharton had 56 tackles and an interception a year ago and he returns as one of the leaders of the secondary. Defensive lineman Darius Hamilton was injured early in last year’s campaign but had 10.5 career sacks and could be a key piece in the trenches. Kemoko Turay is a big-time pass-rusher who will greatly aid everyone around him if he can consistently get after quarterbacks. The back seven is the concern, as all three linebackers need to be replaced while the secondary has some players returning but took its lumps a season ago.
The offense averaged 27.1 points per contest in 2015, which was about the middle of the pack nationally. The quarterback situation is the big question. Chris Laviano returns after throwing for 2,247 yards with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions a season ago, but he could have some competition for the starting job as TCU transfer Zach Allen enters the fray. Whoever wins the job won’t have the benefit of Leonte Caroo as his main weapon, as the dynamic wideout has moved on to the NFL. Andre Patton is the default No. 1 wideout now and will look to make the jump after catching 34 passes for 432 yards a season ago. The running game could be Rutgers’ biggest strength. Four offensive linemen are back to pave the way and Robert Martin and Josh Hicks are back after each averaging more than five yards per carry a year ago.
Rutgers didn’t show enough on either side of the ball in 2015. The biggest reason for optimism is the addition of Allen, who may be able to increase the explosiveness of the offense if he can win the starting quarterback job and excel. However, it won’t be easy for Rutgers to compete week in and week out against talented Big Ten foes, which is why the team has been given an over-under win total of only 4.5 games this season in NCAA football gambling.
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook for the over-under win total set for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who had a down season in 2015 without expectations to be much better this year behind Darius Hamilton, Andre Patton, Zach Allen and Isaiah Wharton! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today!
