Rutgers opens as a 13.5-point home underdog to slumping Nebraska

Rutgers is coming off a 31-10 loss at Wisconsin, and the market has made it close to a two-touchdown home underdog against Nebraska on Saturday. SB Nation reported that FanDuel opened the Scarlet Knights at +13.5 with a total of 53.5. The two teams are both sliding into November, so the line says more about how far Rutgers has fallen than about Nebraska's form.

The Cornhuskers have lost four straight, to Indiana, Oregon, Washington and Illinois. SB Nation noted that three of those losses came by a touchdown or less. Rutgers has lost three in a row, and the losses to Northwestern and Wisconsin weren't close. Nebraska is 7-0 all-time against Rutgers, so a Scarlet Knights win would be their first in the series.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea's production has dropped during the losing streak. He has 2,100 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes on the season, but SB Nation counted only three touchdowns and five interceptions over the last four games. Kwazi Gilmer is his top target, with 46 catches for 603 yards and seven scores. Colandrea also averages 4.5 yards per carry, and SB Nation pointed out that Rutgers has had trouble with quarterbacks who can run. The outlet also said Rutgers might again be missing several of its top offensive players, and that the margin will probably depend on who is available.

What it means for Saturday

Nebraska is 5-4. It beat Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State and Maryland by an average of more than 30 points, and its offense hasn't looked the same since. Over the four-game skid the Huskers have scored 13, 10, 14 and 17 points, an average of 13.5, though the defense has kept most of those games tight. Rutgers is 2-7 and has scored 10, 21 and 14 points in its last three games while giving up an average of almost 34. The common opponents point the same way. Nebraska lost to Indiana by three, and Rutgers lost to the Hoosiers by 32. Nebraska beat Maryland by 25, while Rutgers needed a late push to win at Maryland 37-30.

The board for Nebraska at Rutgers covers 12 venues, and all of them agree on the size of the spread. Nebraska is favored by 13.5. Novig has the Huskers at -122 on that number, while Pinnacle's -108 is the best price anywhere. On the other side, Novig has Rutgers +13.5 at -102, and FanDuel's even-money +100 is the best price. On the moneyline, Novig has Nebraska at -488 and Rutgers at +441, and FanDuel's +450 is the best Rutgers price. Sportsbook hold on the two sides ranges from 3.7% to 6.7%.

The total shows the most disagreement. Novig and theScore Bet are at 53.5, and BetMGM has dropped to 52.5. That fits a matchup between an offense that has stopped finishing drives and a defense that hasn't been able to stop anyone. Novig prices the under at -120 and the over at -106 on 53.5, so it leans toward a lower-scoring game. Rutgers will need its injured playmakers back to keep it within two touchdowns.