Washington is hosting Rutgers on Friday night of Week 7. The game will take place at 9:00 p.m. ET in Seattle, Washington.
The Huskies are 10.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 60.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Rutgers vs. Washington Big Ten conference matchup.
Rutgers vs. Washington prediction, preview
Rutgers Preview
It has been a rough start to Big Ten play for Rutgers. After sweeping non-conference play, the Scarlet Knights have suffered losses to Iowa and Minnesota in their first two Big Ten games. Those were two of the more winnable games on Rutgers’ schedule, which could signal trouble for Rutgers. Things looked bright for Rutgers in the non-conference part of its schedule because of the great play of quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. He was performing like an elite college quarterback to start the season, but he has not looked as sharp in conference play, throwing an interception in both Big Ten games. The offensive line has not held up either, but the defense has been the biggest problem. The Scarlet Knights rank 113th in defensive EPA/play and 127th in defensive success rate. It could be a tough trip across the country for that Rutgers defense.
Washington Preview
Washington pulled off a huge comeback last week against Maryland to keep its season alive. The Huskies suffered a loss to No. 1 Ohio State and came out flat the following week after flying across the country to face Maryland. However, they showed their quality by dominating the second half and getting the win. The Huskies still have a chance to compete for a playoff spot out of the Big Ten if they win the games ahead of them. This is one they need to get, but Jedd Fisch is all too aware that no Big Ten games can be taken for granted. Washington lost on the road against Rutgers last season in a game where it missed multiple field goals, took bad penalties, and was not prepared. This is a revenge spot for Washington, where Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston will look to dominate the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers vs. Washington pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for Washington to go over its team total of 35.5 points. This team averaged 55.7 points per game during their non-conference schedule. They have one of the best running backs in the nation, Jonah Coleman, and one of the best wide receivers in the nation, Denzel Boston. Demond Williams Jr. is still an inexperienced quarterback, but he is capable of being an explosive playmaker. This team struggled against the best team in the country and was sluggish in the first half in a hangover spot. However, they should be highly motivated for this game to get revenge for last season’s loss. Washington ranks 10th in the nation in offensive success rate, while Rutgers ranks 127th in the nation in defensive success rate. The Huskies should name the score on Friday night in Seattle.
