Posted on
1/4/2008 10:01:27 AM
NCAA Football Bowl Betting – Ball State vs. Rutgers
By Tim Furious
Preview: Rutgers was supposed to breakout in to BCS contention this season, but proved unable to overcome the powerful West Virginia Mountaineers, Connecticut Huskies and their Louisville Cardinal rivals. Now they are relegated to the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada where they will take on an underrated quarterback while trying to salvage their season with a bowl victory.
Ball State Offense vs. Rutgers Defense
Cardinals quarterback Nate Davis threw for 3,376 yards and 27 touchdowns with only six interceptions, although nobody really noticed. Dante Love and Darius Hill, all 6-foot-6 of him, will try to break open against a strong Rutgers secondary that only gives up 160.6 passing yards per game. The Scarlet Knights betting investors can rest assured that, as talented as Davis has been this season, he will struggle against a stiff Rutgers defense.
The Cardinals have been decimated at the tailback position, having been whittled down to number-seven option on the depth chart. Injuries should have healed by now, but it remains difficult to imagine for the Ball State bettors out there that they will enjoy any success against Rutgers. They average 147.3 rushing yards on the ground, but face a strong defense that only gives up 158.9 rushing yards per game.
Rutgers Offense vs. Ball State Defense
Ball State runs a 3-4 defense that has been vulnerable to the rush all season. They give up an embarrassing 197.0 rushing yards against. That is not good news when Ray Rice, one of the best rushing threats in the game, is gearing up on a full month’s rest and ready to impress the NFL brass. Rice averages 5.0 yards per carry and had 20 touchdowns this season.
Rutgers will run the ball often in order to wear down the Ball State front-seven and keep the pressure off of quarterback Mike Teel, who has been hampered by an injured thumb for much of the season. His thumb may have had plenty of time to heal, but Teel still makes plenty of mistakes, proven in his 12 interceptions this year. Ball State caused 18 interceptions this year with a strong pass rush, and Teel must take better care of the football. If Teel can stay upright and has time to throw, his talented receivers will have no problem against a slow secondary that gives up 221.8 passing yards per game.
NCAA Football Betting Trends
-Ball State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
-total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ball State’s last 5 games
-Rutgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
-Ball State is 7-4 ATS on the season
Final Verdict
Rutgers is on the verge of national respect in football and needs a big win to ensure that it remains amongst the nation’s elite. Ray Rice will steal the spotlight and show the world just why is worth first-round consideration in the NFL 2008 Draft. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will end this disappointing season with a decisive victory over the Cardinals.
Ball State Cardinals (7-5) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-5)
Saturday, January 5th --- Rogers Centre, Toronto --- 12:00pm EST
Opening NCAAF Betting Line: Rutgers -9.5 (59.5)
NCAA Football Free Pick: Ball State 13 Rutgers 27
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