Rutgers vs. Louisville Betting Odds
Carrie Stroup here with your Rutgers vs. Louisville betting odds courtesy of our friends at Sportsbook.com, where you can claim your FREE $100 BET here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Louisville -19 & 57
Opening Line & Total: Cardinals -17.5 & 55
The 2012 Big East co-champions attempt to each go 2-0 in the new American Athletic conference when Rutgers visits unbeaten and eighth-ranked Louisville on Thursday night.
Last year, each of these teams was 5-2 in conference play with the Cardinals representing the Big East in the Sugar Bowl, where they defeated Florida 33-23. These two programs have played each other in each of the past eight seasons with Louisville coming out ahead, going 5-3 SU ATS, including 3-1 (SU and ATS) at home. Very close games have been a common trend between these teams. In 4-of-8 meetings, a field goal or less separated them, including a three-point Cardinals victory last year and a two-point victory for them in the last meeting at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in 2011. Rutgers is coming off a 55-52 triple OT victory over SMU in its AAC opener while Louisville hosted Temple and had an easy 30-7 victory. Although the Cardinals didn't cover that 33-point spread, they have still been dominant on the season, winning each of their games by at least 14 points and holding four of five opponents to seven points or less. This will be Louisville’s toughest offensive opponent on the season though, as it has not faced a scoring offense ranked better than 67th in the nation. Although the Cardinals are large favorites at home in this match-up, the Scarlet Knights will look to show they are still a top team in their division.
Rutgers is coming off a thrilling victory at home against SMU on Saturday where it gave up the lead late, being outscored 21-0 in the third quarter, but rallied in overtime to secure its first AAC win. QB Gary Nova has been a large part of the Knights' 4-1 season so far. Over the season, Nova has thrown for 1,171 yards (8.3 YPA) with 13 TD and only 4 INT. His ability to secure the ball and keep drives going has led the Rutgers passing attack to 243.2 YPG (59th in nation). While this team does not do anything spectacular, they bring a dual-threat offense with the 60th-ranked rushing attack (179.6 YPG). RB Paul James has led the team in 2013 with 573 yards on 78 attempts (7.3 YPC) with 6 TD, but is doubtful for the Thursday night game with a leg injury. RB Justin Goodwin came into the SMU game with only seven carries on the season, but sparked the offense with 222 total yards (149 rushing, 73 receiving) and three total touchdowns. Star WR Brandon Coleman (2nd team all-conference in 2012) will look to get back into the swing of things as he has only 126 receiving yards over the past four games after a 94-yard, two-touchdown performance in the season opener. Rutgers lost four first team All-Conference defensive players from the 2012 season, and its difficulties have been clear, allowing 380 YPG and 27.6 PPG.
The Cardinals are riding high, as they have won seven straight games (5-2 ATS) dating to last year and have a margin of victory of 37.6 PPG on the season. Heisman hopeful QB Teddy Bridgewater has been on fire this year with 1,562 passing yards (10.8 YPA), 16 touchdowns and only one interception on the season. Bridgewater has thrown 4+ TD in three of the Cardinals first five games and has been sacked only four times all year. Bridgewater will be missing 2012 1st team All-Conference WR DeVante Parker (375 rec. yds, 6 TD) who is battling a shoulder injury. Picking up the slack will be WR Eli Rogers who has 279 receiving yards (18.6 average) and two touchdowns on the season. Helping out Bridgewater and the passing game will be the 58th-ranked rushing attack (181.2 YPG) led by the trio of HBs Senorise Perry, Dominique Brown and Michael Dyer combining for 753 yards (5.8 YPC) and eight touchdowns. Louisville features the nation's top-ranked scoring defense (6.8 PPG), but has yet to face a difficult offense, going up against the 119th-ranked offense (Temple) and 124th-ranked offense (FIU) in their past two games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
