Rutgers vs Wake Forest Odds and Predictions – 2021 Gator Bowl

• Wake Forest and their powerful offense faces fill-in Rutgers in the Gator Bowl
• Rutgers lost seven of their last nine games to end the season and has only eight days to prepare
• Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights jumped at the chance to fill in at the Gator Bowl.

Their reward? Potentially getting run out of the building by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who are looking to cap off their campaign with an 11th win, which would match the 2006 team for the most in school history.

This matchup should be a case study in prep time: Rutgers has all of eight days to ready themselves against one of the elite offenses in the nation, after Texas A&M backed out due to a combination of COVID illnesses, injuries and players opting out. The Aggies couldn’t field a team.

It all gets underway on New Year’s Eve at 11am from TIAA Field in Jacksonville. The Demon Deacons are a massive 15.5-point favorite heading into the contest.

Gator Bowl Odds

Odds as of December 30 at BetMGM

Demon Deacons’ Outlook

Wake Forest is high-octane, all the time, which is why their 45-21 loss in the ACC Championship to the Pitt Panthers was so surprising.

It was the first time all season the Deacons failed to score at least 35 points in a game, racing past the 40+ point plateau eight times in 13 games. They were fifth in the nation in scoring, pouring in 41.2 points a game, while generating 469.1 yards of total offense each time out.

Most Pass TDs on 20+ yard throws:

1. Sam Hartman – 19
2. Kenny Pickett – 17
3. CJ Stroud – 14
4. Bryce Young – 13pic.twitter.com/5YKaLDEpTV

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 30, 2021

Quarterback Sam Hartman was the maestro of the attack, throwing for 3,924 yards with 36 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions. He also added 342 yards rushing and 11 scores on the ground.

Those 47 total touchdowns are in rarefied ACC air, only topped in the record books by the monster years by both Lamar Jackson (51 total TD’s) and Deshaun Watson (50) in an insane 2016 season.

AT Perry WIDE OPEN for the @WakeFB TD. pic.twitter.com/jhJfSbSbl0

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 23, 2021

Hartman will look to hook up with his top targets early and often. AT Perry had 61 grabs for 1,166 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Jaquarii Roberson had 71 catches for 1,078 yards and eight scores of his own.

Scarlet Knights’ Outlook

Consider that Rutgers got the first invite as a Gator Bowl replacement because they had the best team Academic Progress Rate (seriously).

TOUCHDOWN MARYLAND

Good start for Maryland & Taulia Tagovailoa#Maryland #Rutgers

pic.twitter.com/5mjQ8gcT0u

— CFB Country (@_CFBCountry) November 27, 2021

It’s the first criteria among programs that didn’t get to six wins – among 5-7 teams. That’s how a team that lost seven of their final nine games finds its way into a New Year’s Eve bowl game.

Physically, it’s hard to imagine Rutgers being their best selves, as they will have had a 27-day break in between getting shelled by a not-so-great Maryland team 40-16 in their final game Nov. 27 and putting the pads on again.

“There is no such thing as missed opportunities.” – HC @GregSchiano

This team never stops Chopping. See you soon, @taxslayerbowl. 🤝 🪓 pic.twitter.com/FLIWRDUbPP

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) December 23, 2021

Rutgers didn’t post a win against any team that went to bowl game, and they failed to score more than 16 points in each of their seven L’s.

On the year, they’re averaging 20.5 points per game.

Rutgers vs Wake Forest Pick

It’s going to take a herculean effort from Rutgers to keep this close. They’ve been a pretty good defensive unit, surrendering only 24 points a game, and are a top-10 team in the NCAA in third-down D.

They’re also 5-0 on the year when committing no turnovers, and the Wake Forest defense is definitely a weakness, surrendering 30.3 points a game, including 202.1 yards on the ground, which ranks 114th.

Locked in on the mission 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Dkuc5l2cpO

— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) December 29, 2021

However, this is all optimistic thinking. Wake Forest is the superior, more prepared team, and were set to face the 7th-ranked defense in the nation in Texas A&M, that’s been downgraded to the 77th.

Take Wake to win going away.

Pick: Wake Forest -15.5 (-110)