Rutgers opens the 2024 season at home against Howard University on Thursday. There are high expectations for the Scarlet Knights after they went 7-6 last season and finished 2023 with a 31-24 win over Miami University in the Pinstripe Bowl. Meanwhile, the Bisons are 6-6 in FCS play and have big plans with two big offensive weapons returning next season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM ET from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. The latest Rutgers vs. Howard odds have the Scarlet Knights as favorites by 36.5 points. The over/under for total points is 49.5. Be sure to check out SportsLine expert Emory Hunt Jr.'s college football predictions and betting advice before making any Howard vs. Rutgers picks.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, a company that has been providing football analysis at all levels since 2007, and a former running back for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. He knows the game from a player’s perspective, plus he predicted 93 wins, 78 losses and 5 ties (+777) in college football last year, putting him pretty high up the list for anyone who follows him.
Now, Hunt has set his sights on Rutgers vs. Howard and has locked in his predictions and CFB predictions: To see Hunt's predictions, head over to SportsLine now: Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Howard vs. Rutgers:
Rutgers vs. Howard Spread: Rutgers -36.5Rutgers vs. Howard Over/Under: 49.5 pointsRutgers: 7-6 overall last season (including a bowl win over Miami)Howard: 6-6 in FCS play last seasonRutgers vs. Howard Picks: See SportsLine's Picks
Why Howard can cover it
The Bisons nearly beat Northwestern last season, proving they can hold their own against FBS competition. In that game, star rushers Eden James and Jarrett Hunter each scored touchdowns in the closing seconds and Howard outscored the Wildcats 13-0. Northwestern came away with a 23-20 victory, but it wasn't without Howard's momentum.
The pairing of James and Hunter is back this season, as is their strong defensive line. A high third-down conversion rate will be key to last season's strategy that the Bison are looking to emulate. If they can take advantage of a wounded Rutgers defense, they have a chance to keep this game close. Find out which team to pick here.
Why Rutgers can cover
The Scarlet Knights received bad news before the season even began: star linebacker Mohamed Toure, who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss last year, is out for the season with a torn ACL. This puts a damper on Rutgers' campaign, as the team returns 16 players from last year's bowl-winning team. But the offense still has room to improve.
Running back Kyle Monangai returns to dominate the run game, and attention will also be focused on new starting quarterback Ahsan Kaliakmanis. The Minnesota transfer has been pushing the tempo of the offense during practice and has already been named team captain. If Kaliakmanis can successfully disrupt Rutgers' offensive scheme, the Scarlet Knights could have a comfortable lead on Thursday. Find out which teams to pick here.
How to predict Howard vs. Rutgers
Hunt is leaning toward the over total and has identified some key X-factors that will always favor one side of the spread, and you can see his picks exclusively at SportsLine.
So who will win Howard vs. Rutgers, and which side of the spread should you bet on? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you should bet on from our football experts, who are 93-78-5 (+777) in their 2023 college football predictions.
