The Ohio Bobcats and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet in week 1 college football action from SHI Stadium on Thursday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Ohio vs. Rutgers prediction.
Ohio Team Preview
The Ohio Bobcats come into the 2025 season looking to build on one of their most successful seasons in recent memory, finishing with an 11-3 record, their third straight double-digit win season, ending with a third straight bowl game win in the Cure Bowl, taking down Jacksonville State 30-27. Parker Navarro is back at QB after throwing for over 2,400 yards and 18 touchdowns but also threw for 11 interceptions while rushing for over 1,000 yards. Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris are back as Navarro’s top returning pass catchers and Sieh Bangura is back after a short stint at Minnesota following his first stint in Ohio where he rushed for almost 2,000 yards and 22 TDs in three seasons. The defense will have to re-tool, but Tank Pearson’s back after leading Ohio with four interceptions and the Bobcats did a great job in the transfer portal filling voids left from last year’s departures.
Why the Ohio Bobcats will win
- Ohio has won each of its last seven games.
- Rutgers has lost each of its last three games as a favorite.
- The underdog has covered the spread in seven of Rutgers’ last eight games.
- Rutgers has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
Rutgers Recap
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will be out to improve on back-to-back 7-6 seasons after finishing 2024 barely above .500, culminating in a loss in the Rate Bowl to Kansas State, 44-41. Athan Kaliakmanis is back at QB after throwing for almost 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns and has a solid group of receivers led by Ian Strong who had a team-high 5 touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights lost their top running back from last year but Antwan Raymond was 2nd in rushing with 457 yards and 8 TDs. On defense, the front line for Rutgers has to completely retool via the portal but has some solid pieces coming in. Daniel Djabome is back at linebacker after recording 105 tackles for the Scarlet Knights last season and that kind of continuity is going to be huge for Rutgers’ defense this season.
Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win
- Rutgers has won each of its last nine games against non-conference opponents at SHI Stadium.
- Ohio has lost each of its last four games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference.
- Rutgers has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games against non-conference opponents at SHI Stadium.
- Ohio has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three games against non-conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Rutgers’ last six games against teams from Ohio have gone OVER the total points line.
- Five of Ohio’s last six games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
Ohio vs. Rutgers Prediction
I was initially on Ohio with the points, but I still have my concerns about the turnover within Ohio’s program. Parker Navarro’s a solid quarterback, and the skill positions have some solid talent there as well. The problem is that Rutgers is still a very sound defensive unit, and Greg Schiano in these early season games has a tendency to keep his foot on the gas throughout. I think that’s the case here as well and Rutgers pulls away for the win and cover at home.