For the first time this season, the Indiana Hoosiers are hitting the road. The Hoosiers took care of business in their first four games of the season at home, and are now looking to earn their first road victory on Saturday night at Rutgers.
A glaring Indiana weakness will be put to the test in Week 5 against Rutgers
Indiana enters this Big Ten matchup ranked as the No. 6 team in the country. Kick-off between the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights is set for 8 p.m. ET. With the anticipation continuing to build, here is a look at the latest Indiana vs Rutgers betting odds as well as a score prediction for IU's first road test of the season.
Final betting odds for Indiana vs. Rutgers in Week 5
Rutgers lost its first game of the season to UMass. The Scarlet Knights then lost to Boston College and USC before picking up a 58-7 win over Howard last week. Things aren't going well for Greg Schiano during his second stint in Piscataway, and things won't get any easier welcoming the defending National Champions to town.
Given Rutgers' struggles and Indiana's 20-game win streak, it's not surprising to see the Hoosiers listed as significant favorites. As of this publishing, Indiana is favored by 24.5-points over Rutgers with lopsided moneyline odds of -2400 via DraftKings Sportsbook. The total, or over/under, is listed at 56.5. Here is a closer look at the final betting odds for Indiana vs Rutgers:
Moneyline
Indiana (-2400)
Rutgers (+1200)
Spread
Indiana -24.5 (-105)
Rutgers +24.5 (-115)
Total
Over 56.5 (-112)
Under (-108)
Surprisingly, the Hoosiers have yet to cover the spread this season. Rutgers hasn't been much better, as they are just 1-3 against the spread. With a combined record of 1-7 against the spread between these two teams, something has to give in this contest.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Final score prediction for Indiana vs. Rutgers
The Indiana defense pitched back-to-back shutouts before getting tested last week against Northwestern. Chip Kelly and Aidan Chiles gave the Hoosiers some real headaches, but the Rutgers offense is far less daunting. After springing a bit too many leaks against the Wildcats last Friday night, look for IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines to have a sound game plan in place for this matchup.
Indiana's RB room is banged up, so this may be the game where Josh Hoover airs it out more than we've seen so far. Hoover has looked steady, as he's completed over 70% of his passes and thrown for 11 touchdown with zero interceptions. It's clear he has a strong connection with both Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, and the Rutgers passing defense is nothing to write home about.
I think last week's scare against Northwestern will serve as a wake-up call for the Hoosiers. They were able to breeze through the non-conference slate against lesser opponents, but Northwestern is a quality team who gave Indiana a run for its money. I expect a heightened sense of urgency and a more polished performance from the Cream and Crimson. Plus, Indiana simply has too many talent advantages across the board in this one. Indiana wins 51-21.
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