Upcoming Match-ups

Temple vs Rutgers Odds, Picks and How to Watch

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in College Football

Updated Sep 2, 2021 · 11:45 AM PDT

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in College Park, Md. Rutgers won 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
  • Temple (0-0) faces Rutgers (0-0) on Saturday at 12:00 PM Eastern on the Big Ten Network
  • The Scarlet Knights won three games in the first year of Greg Schiano’s second stint with the team; Temple won eight games two years ago but are coming off a disastrous one win campaign
  • See the odds, preview and best bet to make on the Sept. 4th game below

Greg Schiano begins year two of his second stint with Rutgers with a nice stretch of winnable games. First up are the Temple Owls on Thursday night at Shi Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday night but was pushed back due to Hurricane Ida.

The Scarlet Knights are listed as 14.5 point favorites which is a big number for a team that won only three games a year ago. The number shows both trust in Rutgers and a lack of faith in Temple on behalf of the oddsmakers.

It’s a sellout as fans can finally return to the stands in Piscataway, and will begin at Noon EST on Big Ten Network.

Temple vs Rutgers Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Temple Owls +14.5 (-108) +520 O 52.5 (-105)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights -14.5 (-112) -800 U 52.5 (-115)

Odds as of September 2nd at FanDuel

It’s the season opener for both teams, which is better news for Rutgers than it is Temple. Let’s take a look at both programs to zero in on the best value bet on the board.

Rutgers Eyes Quick Start to 2021 Season

Rutgers finished the 2020 season with a 3-6 record and are as happy as any team in the country that non-conference games are back. Instead of diving right in to a tough Big Ten slate they instead open with Temple, Syracuse and Delaware. That’s a nice stretch that Schiano and the coaching staff hope to use to their advantage.

Rutgers returns many of the best players from last year’s team that established itself as a respectable unit. QB Noah Verdal has his two favorite weapons back in wide receivers Bo Melton and Shameen Jones.

The pair of wideouts combined for nine touchdowns in last years shortened season. The Scarlet Knights also return running back Isaih Pacheco who ran for 515 yards and three scores last season. Rutgers put up 26.7 points per game in the first season of Schiano’s second tenure and aim to build on that with all the familiar faces on the roster.

The defense also has reason to believe there will be some significant improvement. Olakunle Fatukasi returns after leading the team with 101 tackles last season. He’ll be showcasing his stuff for NFL scouts alongside Mohamed Toure who had 4.5 sacks last year and Christian Izien who had four interceptions. These players in year two of the new system adds to the likelihood Rutgers gets off to a good start.

Temple Looks to Erase 2020 From Memory

Temple entered last season with lots of promise. They finished the 2019 season with an 8-5 record and had their sights on a bowl game and conference championship.

Instead they finished 1-6 and put up abysmal numbers across the board. The Owls scored only 19.9 points per game while allowing a staggering 37.1 against. The best course of action is likely to blame the quirky COVID-19 season and play videos from two seasons ago on a loop to help build confidence around the program.

Like Rutgers, Temple also returns a ton of players. Whether that’s good or bad news if for you to decide. Running back Tayvon Ruley returns after amassing 306 yards and a single touchdown. Wide receivers Jadan Blue and Randle Jones are also back after combining to rack up 700 yards and seven scores.

Quarterback Re-al Mitchell saw limited time last year, completing half of his 52 pass attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions. This appears to be the rare case where clearing the deck and welcoming new players may actually have been a better result for Temple.

Focus on the Total

Rutgers certainly has the easier path to success this season but they are also dealing with a spread asking them to win by more than two scores. That’s a tough ask for a program on the cusp of turning things around. Alternatively there’s little reason to be confidence in Temple, which makes the total the most intriguing wager on the board.

Even with returning talent, these two teams could find getting into an offensive rhythm challenging.  The under is 4-0 in Rutgers last four games against AAC opponents and this game should follow that script. Trust these two teams to finish their season opener under the number.

The Pick: Under 52.5 (-115)

Author Image