Behind the Line: Rutgers currently a 15.5 point favorite against UMASS

Rutgers vs UMASS at SHI Stadium: 7:15 p.m. Friday, August 30^th

Current Point Spread (according to VegasInsider): Rutgers -15.5

Current Point Total: 55.5

Gut reaction:

The first thing I noticed when doing research on the UMASS Minutemen was how downright dreadful their defense performed last season. The Minutemen defense only returns three starters from a unit that allowed 42.9 (!!!) points per game last season as well as 484.8 yards per game. Yikes. The question here is whether or not they’re bad enough to make the Rutgers offense look like a solid unit in the opener. If there’s any game on the schedule that the Scarlet Knight offense can get things going against, it’s definitely this one. Rutgers QB Art Sitkowski (if he gets the starting nod) can definitely find some success and get his feet under him against this atrocious unit.

If I Were a Betting Man:

I just don’t know enough about both teams at this point of the season to put some money on this point spread. Yes, on paper Rutgers should be able to put points up against such a bad defensive unit for UMASS but I sort of need to see it to believe it at this point. Besides Raheem Blackshear and Isaih Pacheco, Rutgers doesn’t have much in terms of skill position players and I want to see how the offensive line looks before making any wagers. I’m much more comfortable taking UNDER 55.5 points in this one. I think Rutgers Head Coach Chris Ash will have the defense looking sharp in the home opener here and will follow the trend of the Under being 5-1 in the last 6 Rutgers games of last season.

Other B1G Bets:

Here are some other wagers I like around the Big Ten this week:

Minnesota -13 vs South Dakota State, Thursday 8/29 9PM

That’s it for this week, just two wagers as it’s Week 1 and I don’t like to go crazy until I start seeing these teams in action. Just glad that football season is back!