Rutgers vs Kansas State Game Information

Rutgers vs Kansas State Preview

Rutgers (7-5, 4-5 in Big Ten) locks horns with Kansas State (8-4, 5-4 in Big 12) in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday. In their last 5 games, the Scarlet Knights are 3-2, losing at USC by 22 (42-20), beating Minnesota by 7 (26-19) and Maryland by 14 (31-17) to become Bowl eligible, falling to Illinois by 7 (38-31), and then trouncing Michigan State by 27 in the Regular Season finale (41-14). In their last 5, the Wildcats went 2-3, beating rivals Kansas by 2 (29-27), losing back-to-back games at Houston by 5 (24-19) and CFP Quarterfinalists Arizona State by 10 (24-14), beating Cincinnati by 26 (41-15), and then losing to Iowa State by 8 in the Regular Season finale (29-21). Rutgers is 7-5 lifetime in Bowl games and won by 7 vs Miami Florida last year in the Pinstripe Bowl (31-24) while Kansas State is 11-14 in their previous 25 Bowl appearances and won the Pop Tarts Bowl last year, beating NC State by 9 (26-19).

Rutgers First Big Ten Member to Play in a Bowl

Rutgers (6-5-1 ATS, 8-4-0 O/U) was a strong Over team this season and will be the first team from the Big Ten to play in a Bowl game this year with Indiana and Penn State playing in the CFP already. The Scarlet Knights are led by QB Athan Kalakamanis (2,459 Passing yards, 17 TD, 6 Interceptions), RB Kyle Monangai (1,279 Rushing yards, 13 TD), and WR Dymere Miller (731 Receiving yards) and average 27.9 ppg (Tied-#70) and allow 23.8 ppg (Tied-#58) and average 204.9 Passing Yards Per Game (#92) and 176.3 Rushing Yards Per Game (#48). Rutgers has 3 players in the Transfer Portal and 5 possible Opt-outs but Social Media makes it look like 4 of those 5 may all play. Rutgers (+210 Moneyline) won’t have a Defensive Coordinator for this Bowl.

Rutgers Betting Trends

• Rutgers is 6-2 in Bowl games under HC Greg Schiano
• The Scarlet Knights are 3-1-0 ATS in their last 4 games
• The Over is 5-1-0 in Rutgers last 6 games
• The Over is 7-3-0 in the Scarlet Knights last 10 games
• Rutgers went 7-5-1 ATS last 2023 NCAAF season

Kansas State Seeking 3rd Straight Bowl Win Here

Kansas State (4-8-0 ATS, 5-7-0 O/U) was awful against the betting number this season and the Wildcats (-260 Moneyline) are led by QB Avery Johnson (2,517 Passing yards, 22 TD, 9 Interceptions; 548 Rushing yards, 6 TD, 5.4 ypc), star RB DJ Giddens (1,343 Rushing yards, 7 TD, 6.6 ypc), and WR Jayce Brown (763 receiving yards). KSU has 4 guys in the transfer Portal and 2 potential Opt-outs (Giddens and CB Jacob Parrish, who both declared for the 2025 NFL Draft). WR Jadon Jackson and RT Andrew Leingang will both make their second starts of the season while LT Andrew Pastore and S Colby McAllister are both out with Injuries. The Wildcats are averaging 29.9 ppg (#50) and allowing 21.9 ppg (#35) and average 212.8 Passing Yards Per Game (#84) and 204 Rushing Yards Per Game (#17). Without the electric Giddens, this game just won’t be as entertaining.

Kansas State Betting Trends

• Kansas State is 8-0 SU when scoring 21+ and 0-4 when scoring 21 or less
• The Wildcats are 1-4-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall
• The Under is 3-1-0 in Kansas State’s last 4 games
• The Wildcats are 147-119-4 ATS since 2003 (55.3%)
• Kansas State went 8-4-1 ATS in the 2023 NCAAF season

Rutgers vs Kansas State Prediction

These two met in the Texas Bowl way back in 2006 and Rutgers rolled to an easy 37-10 victory, covering ATS as 8.5-Point Favorites in a game that went Over the 44.5 closing Total by 2.5 points. The Scarlet Knights had 479 Total Yards while the Wildcats mustered just 162 Total yards and only 31 yards Rushing. That won’t be happening here, even with Giddens opting out. Expect KSU QB Johnson to put on a good performance with RB Dylan Edwards (350 Rushing yards, 3 TD, 6.3 ypc) trying to fill the running void left by Giddens’ absence and this is a good chance for him to shine in the spotlight. Returning WR Jackson (14 Receptions, TD, 13.9 ypc) and TE Garrett Oakley (20 Receptions 220 Receiving yards, 4 TD, 11.0 ypc) should also help the Wildcats cause. With the Scarlet Knight scoring so many Points in their last 4 games (26, 31, 36, and 41) and this a Bowl game on a friendly playing surface with no Weather issues (retractable roof), this Rutgers vs Kansas State NCAAF pick will look to the Totals market and suggest the Over, with 2 decent QBs in the saddle and the Scarlet Knights playing 8 Overs in their 12 games heading in here.

Kevin’s Pick: Rutgers-Kansas State Over 50.5

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