Washington vs. Rutgers: Prediction, Pick, Odds Preview

This week, a Friday night game in the Big Ten presents one of my favorite betting opportunities of the week in the NCAA football odds market.

New conference mates Washington and Rutgers will meet in New Jersey in their first foray into conference play, and I’m a big fan of one side. 

Washington vs. Rutgers Odds

• Point Spread: Rutgers -2.5
• Moneyline: Rutgers -140  |  Washington +115
• Over/Under: 44.5

Washington vs. Rutgers Preview

Washington and Rutgers entered the 2024 season in very different places. Rutgers was coming off a seven-win regular season that was pretty good, by Piscataway standards and had 16 starters coming back. 

Former Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis joined the Scarlet Knights via the transfer portal and has a top-40 QBR so far this season. Rutgers ranks 18th in FBS with 219 rush yards per game. 

As most college football fans could tell you, Washington is the far bigger football brand here. The Huskies are following up a season where they appeared in the national championship game. 

However, nearly the entirety of last year’s team is gone, including quarterback Michael Penix Jr., receiver Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, tight ends Devin Culp and Jack Westover, and head coach Kalen DeBoer. Only six starters are back on the entire team. It’s a true brain drain in every sense.

So far, the market hasn’t seen the effects of this drain. Washington enters Friday’s game with the same number of wins as Rutgers because it’s beefed up its record with nonconference games against Weber State and Eastern Michigan before opening conference play with a home game against Northwestern. The schedule has been generous to Washington fans so far.

Compare that to Rutgers, which is coming off a road nonconference win at Virginia Tech. 

On the field, college football has a much greater sense of what Rutgers is, relative to Washington. But the market sees this game as a near-tossup. 

For my money, that’s less about the football and more about the names on the front of the jerseys.

Washington vs. Rutgers Prediction

I’m predicting an easy win and cover for Rutgers on Friday. I like this game so much that it made my short list of college football best bets for Week 5.

Washington must travel across the country to play an unfamiliar opponent on a short week of rest. It also happens to be the toughest opponent it’s played so far this season.

That’s a huge advantage to Rutgers, which only has to cover a measly 2.5-point spread right now at BetMGM. The brand bias that’s potentially in play here opens up big potential for anyone willing to lay the short number. Rutgers football odds have never looked so good. 

Washington vs. Rutgers Pick: Rutgers -2.5