Virginia Tech Hokies at Rutgers Scarlet Knights Top Play

Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0, 2-0), 9/16/23

When: 3:30 pm ET Saturday, Sept. 16

Where: SHI Stadium

TV: BTN

Point spread: VT +7/Rut -7 (Get $60 in Free Picks)

Money line: Va Tech +215/Knights -260

Over/under: 39.5

Former Big East Conference rivals – remember when the Big East played football? – meet again when Virginia Tech visits Rutgers on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway.

The Hokies are off to a 1-1 start in their second season under Coach Pry, while the Scarlet Knights are shooting for their third straight 3-0 start under Coach Schiano.

Who do we like for our free VT/Rutpick?

NCAAF Betting Odds

The Week 3 college football betting lines opened Rutgers as a four-point home favorite over Virginia Tech, with an over/under of right around 40. Early betting action then knocked the Knights up to -7.

Virginia Tech Betting Preview

The Hokies are looking to bounce back this week after falling at home to Purdue last Saturday, 24-17. Virginia Tech fell behind to the Boilermakers 17-0 early in the second quarter, then rallied back to take a 17-17 tie into halftime. But the Hokies came up totally empty in the second half, gave up the game-deciding score midway through the fourth quarter, and could not respond.

V-Tech got out-gained by Purdue 427-286, out-rushed 179-11, and lost both the turnover battle 2-0 and time of possession 38:22.

The Hokies opened their season two weeks ago with a 36-17 win over Old Dominion. Favored by 16 points, Virginia Tech only led that game 21-17 late into the third quarter, before pulling away with the last 15 points.

V Tech returned 14 starters this season, seven on each side of the ball, from a team that played 3-8. So improvement is expected. It might start with running the ball more effectively; the Hokies are averaging just 1.9 yards per carry so far.

Rutgers Betting Preview

The Scarlet Knights are 2-0 for the third straight season after topping Temple last Saturday 36-7. Rutgers started a bit slowly, led 13-0 at the half and only 13-7 early in the fourth quarter. But the Knights woke up and pulled away with 23 straight points to secure the W and the money at -7.5.

Rutgers out-gained the Owls 452-298, out-rushed Temple 254-68, and won time of possession 35:25.

The Knights opened their season with a 24-7 win over Northwestern. Rutgers led that game 17-0 at the half, held the Wildcats to just 12 yards rushing, and covered relatively easily at -5.

The Scarlet Knights returned 14 starters this season from a team that played 4-8 last year. So, this team is shooting for a bowl.

Virginia Tech-Rutgers History

These teams met every season from 1992 through 2003, sometimes as Big East foes, until going their separate ways. The last time they met came back in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl, a 13-10 Hokies victory.

College Football Betting Trends

The Big 10 is 8-5 SU, 7-6 ATS vs. the ACC over the last two-plus seasons.

Totals Report

• The totals are split 1-1 in Hokies games this season, which are averaging 47 total points.
• The Under is 2-0 in Knights games, which are averaging 37 points.

Free College Football Betting Pick

Virginia Tech just lost to a Purdue team that, like the Hokies themselves, will probably struggle to make a bowl this season. Rutgers, meanwhile, didn’t exactly play two great teams so far but won both games in fairly solid fashion. Also, V Tech can’t run the ball, while the Knights aren’t giving much up against the run. We don’t like going along with the betting flow, but we’re going with Rutgers minus the points.