Penn State-Rutgers Predictions: Will Lions extend winning streak vs. Scarlet Knights?

Fresh off a dominant win over Maryland, Penn State will now travel to Rutgers to face a Scarlett Knights squad that’s really struggled this season. After making a bowl game last year, Rutgers is 1-6 in the conference with a win over Indiana.

Since joining the Big Ten, the Knights are yet to beat Penn State. In eight meetings, the Lions have one by an average score of 27-5. Their biggest win was a 39-0 win in Piscataway back in 2016. Last year’s game in Beaver Stadium was also a shutout, with PSU winning 28-0 behind backup quarterback Christian Veilleux.

Nate Bauer (Season: 10-0; Last Game: 31-16 PSU)

The threats to Penn State, as I see it, are opponents that can score and move the football. Even against the Nittany Lions’ outstanding defense, those types of playmakers that can break one can upend a game and create the potential for Penn State to need to keep up in bad-weather conditions. Even against Maryland last weekend, the reality of the Nittany Lions relying on, really, two huge fourth-and-1 plays from Nicholas Singleton showed that this is an offense that can still be tamped down.

Rutgers’ defense could do that. Rutgers’ offense can’t, in any capacity. Regardless of how it happens, Penn State is likely to come away with a win because the defense won’t only not be tested by the Scarlett Knights, but also can be aggressive enough to create prime opportunities for the Nittany Lion offense. 

Penn State: 34

Rutgers: 7

Thomas Frank Carr (Season: 10-0; Last Game: 38-21 PSU)

The Penn State offense has more than proven its capable of putting up points on inferior teams. Aside from two games in the middle of the season, the team has scored 30 or more points in every game this year. Rutgers is a hard-nosed team that won’t quit, but doesn’t have the talent level to compete for 60 minutes with Penn State. While the Nittany Lions should be able to attack anywhere they choose, the short passing game against zone coverage, run game and intermediate throws should be available. 

Defensively, the Lions get another standard Big Ten quarterback. Running back Kyle Monangai is a good football player who can break tackles, but so was Roman Hemby for Maryland. I don’t know that we’ll see a peak performance like the last two weeks because it’s hard to play at that level every game, but Manny Diaz’s defense is on a roll as well. 

Penn State: 45

Rutgers: 10

Sean Fitz (Season: 10-0; Last Game: 27-13 Penn State)

There’s still plenty to play for as the Nittany Lions hit the last weekend before Thanksgiving. While chaos often overtakes college football this time of year, Penn State’s finishing schedule is quite palatable. The Nittany Lions have bullied Rutgers in the past and with a New Year’s Six Bowl slot in sight it’s tough to forecast a letdown this week. 

I don’t think I’ve ever predicted a shutout. It’s really a dumb thing to do, as once the other team scores the prognostication goes out the window. I guess that’s the fun of it. Penn State’s defense is playing lights out and points have been harder to come by for the Scarlet Knights since they began Big Ten play. A 21-point output against Michigan State last week was the only time Rutgers has gotten out of the teens since putting 66 up on Wagner on September 10. The Knights did play Michigan tough two weeks ago, but they’ve also only hit double-digits against the Nittany Lions once since joining the Big Ten in 2014 (a 13-10 Penn State win in Jersey that everyone would prefer not to relive). Penn State has pitched two shutouts in that time.

Penn State: 38

Rutgers: 0

Matt Herb (Season: 10-0; Last Game: 31-21 PSU)

Rutgers hasn’t beaten Penn State very often over the years, but it has done a pretty good job of keeping the Nittany Lions from ringing up touchdown after touchdown the way they frequently have against Maryland, their other longtime Eastern rival turned Big Ten East Division foe. In the eight games that Penn State and Rutgers have played since the Scarlet Knights joined the league in 2014, PSU has topped 30 points only twice. The Lions’ average point total in those eight games is 26.6.

I could see this game being closer than the point spread would suggest. Gavin Wimsatt has steadily improved since taking over Rutgers’ starting quarterback job on a full-time basis, and running back Kyle Monangai has been coming on strong lately. But against the best defense Rutgers has faced so far — Michigan’s — Wimsatt threw 3 interceptions and was sacked 3 times, while Monangai was held to 17 yards. If Penn State’s defense looks anything like it did last Saturday against Maryland, Rutgers will have a hard time keeping this one close for four quarters.

Penn State: 28

Rutgers: 13

Greg Pickel (Season: 9-1; Last Game: 35-21 PSU)

Penn State football has rarely had problems beating Rutgers in the James Franklin era. In fact, the closest meeting between the two schools over the last year came in Franklin’s first season back in 2014. From there, the Lions have won in blowout fashion repeatedly. They will again this year, as well.

Scarlet Knights’ coach Greg Schiano is starting to overhaul the roster he inherited. The team does have a few good pieces. But, by and large, it is no where close to the Nittany Lions in terms of talent. Even with some injury question marks, that will show up on Saturday. Look for the Lions to start fast and finish strong while coasting to another win.

Penn State: 35

Rutgers: 10

Ryan Snyder (Season: 9-1; Last Game: 28-24 Penn State)

Rutgers is bad. Like, very bad.

I’m not going to spend much time breaking this down. Penn State hasn’t been blowing the doors off the Scarlett Knights in recent years, but I do think they should cove 19 points this week. I just don’t see how Rutgers is going to score more than 10 points, maximum.

Penn State: 38

Rutgers: 7