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Game Preview Penn State @ Rutgers
The Penn State Nittany Lions and Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter Saturday’s regular season finale in Piscataway with identical goals and identical records. Both are 5-6 (2-6 Big Ten), both are one win away from bowl eligibility, and both are treating this like a must-win playoff game.
Penn State comes in hot, winning back-to-back games convincingly against Michigan State and Nebraska. Kaytron Allen has carried the offense, putting together two straight monster performances, and breaking the school’s all-time rushing record in the process.
Rutgers, meanwhile, is trying to end a difficult second half to the season, having dropped six of its last eight. Head coach Greg Schiano’s team was overwhelmed by Ohio State last week but will be hoping home-field energy can help change the script.
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Odds and Key Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread | Penn State -5.5 |
| Moneyline | Penn State -215 / Rutgers +175 |
| Total (O/U) | 42.5 |
| Location | SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ |
| Time & Date | Saturday, Nov. 30, 3:30 PM ET |
| TV Coverage | Big Ten Network |
Track real-time line movement at our NCAAF odds hub.
Penn State Outlook
The Nittany Lions have responded well under interim head coach Terry Smith, winning two straight games by a combined score of 65-20. Their offense is being powered by senior running back Kaytron Allen, who now owns the Penn State record for career rushing yards (3,954), surpassing program legends Saquon Barkley and Evan Royster.
Allen followed up his 181-yard performance vs. Michigan State with 160 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska, and he’s now earned back-to-back Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Quarterback Drew Allar continues to manage the game with poise, while Penn State’s defense ranks top-five in the Big Ten in both third-down conversion rate and red-zone defense.
Learn how to evaluate player momentum with our props betting guide.
Rutgers Outlook
The Scarlet Knights are trying to regain their footing after falling 42-9 to Ohio State. It was their sixth loss in the last eight games, though their physicality and effort under coach Greg Schiano haven’t wavered.
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw for just 81 yards last week, and the offense has failed to reach 20 points in five straight games. The defense has kept them in games early but tends to wear down late due to time of possession battles.
Rutgers has allowed 35+ points in three of its last four contests and will need a much better showing against a Penn State team that dominated this matchup 27-6 last year.
See how live betting can help you adjust during second-half swings like Rutgers tends to experience.
Key Matchup Table
| Matchup | Edge |
|---|---|
| Rushing Offense | Penn State |
| Passing Efficiency | Penn State |
| Run Defense | Penn State |
| Red Zone Execution | Penn State |
| Turnover Margin | Rutgers |
| Home Field Advantage | Rutgers |
Betting Trends
- Penn State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games.
- Rutgers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6.
- The total has gone under in 5 of Penn State’s last 7 games.
- The total has gone under in 6 of Rutgers’ last 8.
- Penn State is 17-0 SU in the last 17 meetings.
- Rutgers has failed to score more than 14 points in any of its last 5 vs Penn State.
- Penn State is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 road games.
- Rutgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 home games.
- The under has hit in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head matchups.
Want more data on historical dominance and rivalry betting? Read our spread betting guide.
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Prediction
Penn State has dominated this rivalry for decades, and their recent form—with Kaytron Allen setting records—is simply more promising than Rutgers’ sputtering offense.
Rutgers’ defense may keep the game within reach early, but unless they can find a way to produce explosive plays or force turnovers, it’s tough to see them breaking the Nittany Lions’ win streak in this series.
Projected Score: Penn State 27, Rutgers 13
Spread Pick: Penn State -5.5
Total Lean: Under 42.5
For more Big Ten betting previews, visit our college football expert picks.
Why You Need Expert Picks
When both teams are desperate and evenly matched on paper, it takes deeper analysis to uncover the real edge. Expert picks help you interpret momentum, motivation, and historical trends that influence outcomes beyond the box score.
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