With the short turnaround this week after beating Northwestern on Sunday, the spread is already out for Rutgers in week 2. According to BetOnline.ag, RU is currently favored over Temple by 9.5 points after opening at 10.
It’s a bit surprising after RU easily beat a Big Ten opponent by three scores on Sunday. Perhaps the short week of preparation or the fact that Temple lost by just 3 points against Rutgers last season. The Scarlet Knights were without several key players in the season opener.
On Saturday, the Owls survived against Akron with a 24-21 victory after trailing 21-7 in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback EJ Warner threw for 292 passing yards and two touchdowns in the come from behind win.
The two programs resume the decades long series at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday, September 9 at SHI Stadium. Rutgers leads the all-time series 21-15 overall and has won the last six meetings in a row.
Since Greg Schiano’s return ahead of the 2020 season, RU has beaten Temple on his watch twice. In 2021 when the Scarlet Knights hosted the Owls, Rutgers won easily 61-14. Last season was an adventure as RU survived by the final score of 16-14.
Rutgers covered the spread against Northwestern on Sunday which was -6.5 points while the over/under of 39.5. The spread covered but the over/under did not.
This is obviously an important game for Rutgers to continue to build off of its positive start on Sunday against the Wildcats. In the following week on September 16, RU hosts Virginia Tech while Temple hosts Norfolk State.
Before this week’s game, Greg Schiano was asked about the challenge of preparing for a game on short rest.
“Well, that’s really my job, to make sure that the young coaches have done the breakdowns and we’re ready to go once the game is completed on Sunday,” said Schiano. “But I’ve dealt with short weeks in college. I’ve dealt with short weeks in the National Football League. You just have to adapt your schedule a little bit. A little less time to get stuff done the following week. But I’m excited. We have a chance to play on opening weekend. The only game on Sunday at noon. So be a lot of eyes on the Scarlet Knights.”
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thevinman
September 4, 2023 at 1:05 pm
The over/under did cover. Well, the under bet was a winner but the over was a loser.
thevinman
September 4, 2023 at 1:07 pm
I think the 9.5 spread does make sense given last year’s game. I think we went into Temple last year overconfident given we had crushed them the year before. I know I went in overconfident and actually bet on Rutgers. Obviously I lost that bet and we were lucky to get out with a win on a very hot day in Philly. I might be a fool an bet on Rutgers again this year.
pj43
September 4, 2023 at 1:40 pm
I like Rutgers to dominate Temple similar to its performance against NW. So, I like Rutgers 27-3. Just an afterthought but I hate the betting commercials and the emphasis on spreads and all that other bullspit centered around betting in every sport – pro & college. To me, the groundwork is being laid for a scandal that will hurt college sports down the line. I hope that’s the old man in me needlessly concerned, but I’m old enough to remember the collegiate basketball scandals and the harm it caused.