The Washington Huskies (3-0, 1-0 in conference play) will travel across the country to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0 overall) on Friday night. Tonight's game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, streaming live on YouTube TV and the FOX Sports app.
Rutgers is currently a consensus 1.5-point favorite over Washington on the spread (Rutgers -1.5), with an over/under of 45 points. The spread can be found at Rutgers -1, while the total is as high as 45.5 at some sportsbooks. The Scarlet Knights are slim -1216favorites on the moneyline, with the Huskies -103 to win.
So, where does the betting value lie in this cross-country Big Ten Conference clash? Let’s take a look at my Washington vs. Rutgers predictions and college football picks for Friday, Sept. 27.
Washington vs. Rutgers Prediction and Picks
My Rutgers vs. Washington best bet is on the Huskies to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
- Washington vs. Rutgers pick: Washington +1.5 (Bet to -2.5)
Spread
My pick for tonight's Week 5 game is on the spread, where I think there's substantial value, given that I would bet it at Huskies -2.5 and initially bet it at Washington +2.5. With the line still at +1.5, this is a solid bet.
Over/Under
I don't have a bet on the total, which has held steady at 45 all day Friday.
Moneyline
I think Washington is the better team here, as evidenced by being willing to bet them as favorites, but I won't be betting the moneyline since we're getting points.
Washington vs. Rutgers Odds, Lines
| Washington Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -112 | 45 -112o / -108u | +103 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -108 | 45 -112o / -108u | -116 |
- Washington vs. Rutgers point spread: Rutgers -1.5
- Washington vs. Rutgers over/under: 45 points
- Washington vs. Rutgers moneyline: Rutgers -116, Washington -103
Betting Trends
- Rutgers has taken 50% of the bets but only 38% of the money on the Rutgers vs. Washington spread.
- The over has landed 71% of the tickets and generated 63% of the cash.
- 24% of the bets and 48% of the money are on Washington on the moneyline.
Washington vs. Rutgers: College Football Preview
Washington Huskies
Washington came into this season with a lot of questions surrounding its roster, coaching staff and even how it would hold up in the Big Ten.
With so much new around this program following a National Championship appearance, plenty still remains unanswered through four games.
Not much can be taken away from the Huskies' first couple of games from this season, but the last two have been more notable.
First, the Huskies fell in an early-season Apple Cup matchup against Washington State by a score of 24-19, and then they dominated Northwestern last weekend, 24-5.
In every game this season, Washington’s postgame win expectancy has been by a larger margin than the actual final score, per ESPN's Bill Connelly. This suggests that Washington has been even better than these final scores suggest.
Washington ranks 10th in Offensive Success Rate and 53rd in Finishing Drives this season, likely due to a mark of 128th in average field position.
The Huskies still lean heavier toward the pass, throwing the ball 53% of the time. When they put the ball on the air, they rank 19th in Success Rate and 15th in Passing PPA.
They've been strong running the ball as well, ranking eighth in Success Rate and 21st in PPA. However, this offense has lacked big-play ability, ranking 99th in overall explosiveness this season.
Defensively, the Huskies have been solid against the pass, but the run defense has been an issue. Washington ranks fifth in Passing PPA Allowed but 84th in Rushing PPA Allowed.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers has moved to 3-0 after a big road win over Virginia Tech last weekend. The Scarlet Knights seem to be moving in the right direction as a program, and a win against Washington this weekend would be huge for them.
Rutgers has been the better team in all three of its wins this season, with the closest adjusted margin being eight points against Virginia Tech.
The Scarlet Knights rank fourth in Offensive Success Rate, 20th in Finishing Drives and 13th in Havoc Allowed this year.
This is largely due to their run game, which ranks 15th in Success Rate and 38th in PPA. They run the ball 66% of the time (eighth in the nation) but are just 116th in rushing explosiveness.
When it's had to pass, Rutgers has ranked seventh in Passing Success Rate and 20th in passing PPA. New transfer quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has completed 63% of his passes for 646 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception while averaging 0.17 EPA per Dropback this season.
The Rutgers defense ranks 29th in Success Rate and 36th in Opponent Finishing Drives this season. Its passing defense comes in at sixth in PPA, but the run defense sits just 97th in that area with a mark of 114th in explosiveness allowed.
Washington vs. Rutgers Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Washington and Rutgers match up statistically:
Washington Offense vs. Rutgers Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 13 | 98 | |
| Line Yards | 4 | 93 | |
| Pass Success | 9 | 8 |  |
| Havoc | 67 | 90 | |
| Finishing Drives | 65 | 56 | |
| Quality Drives | 51 | 18 | |
Rutgers Offense vs. Washington Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 15 | 55 | |
| Line Yards | 43 | 65 | |
| Pass Success | 8 | 1 | |
| Havoc | 9 | 28 | |
| Finishing Drives | 71 | 12 | |
| Quality Drives | 19 | 23 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 1 | 89 |
| PFF Coverage | 35 | 26 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 90 | 91 |
| Middle 8 | 34 | 58 |
| Seconds per Play | 28.6 (95) | 29.5 (107) |
| Rush Rate | 51% (90) | 66% (8) |
Rutgers is a great story, and this home atmosphere should be a good one on Friday night. However, I think Washington is the better team, even on the road, and would take it to win this game outright.
I trust Will Rogers and the Huskies’ passing game more than Kaliakmanis. I'd rather take the better quarterback here.
Pick: Washington +1.5 (Play to -2.5)
How to Watch Washington vs. Rutgers: Start Time, TV Channel, Streaming
| Location: | SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ |
| Date: | Friday, Sept. 27 |
| Kickoff Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | FOX |
Rutgers vs. Washington is live at 8 p.m. ET Friday night on FOX and is streaming on YouTube TV, the FOX Sports app, and other streaming platforms.
Rutgers vs. Washington Weather
