Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2024 College Football Preview
Posted July 13, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-4-2
The Scarlet Knights lost eight of their final nine games in 2022 but they were SHOT OUT OF A CANNON to start the 2023 season. Rutgers got past Michigan St and Indiana in back-to-back weeks to move to 6-2 and guarantee themselves a bowl appearance. However, the season took a sudden detour to TURD TOWN as they dropped their final four regular season games. The competition during that stretch was nasty, so it wasn’t totally unexpected. Rutgers ended the year on a positive note by defeating YOUR Miami Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl (W 31-24) to finish at 7-6.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
It was ugly (306 YPG, #123 FBS) but the Scarlet Knights did enough to win more games than they lost thanks to a bruising ground attack (169 YPG, #56). Star RB Kyle Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing LY (!) (1,262, 5.2) and he’ll be the key to the offense once again in 2024. Rutgers scooped up the GREEK RIFLE ** from Minnesota and while Athan Kaliakmanis will provide more legitimacy to the THROW GAME, he’s gotta cut down on mistakes (17-13 TD to INT). There a few WRs worth noting in Christian Dremel (#1 LY) and SPICY Monmouth transfer Dymere Miller who led the FCS in receiving yards LY (1,295, 9 TD). The offensive line did excellent work LY and they return four starters and over 120 career starts. Our DEEP RUTGERS INSIDERS project significant strides on offense in 2024.
** Guns! Woo Hoo! Pew Pew Pew. Rat a tat tat. Rat a tat tat. We know you love it, Karen.
DEFENSE
Yes, guy.
The Scarlet Knights made yuuuge strides on defense LY as they allowed a paltry 21 PPG (#33 FBS) just one year removed from yielding 29 PPG. We expect good things from the stop unit this season despite losing a pair of key contributors (#1 tackler Deion Jennings, star CB Max Melton) as each level of the defense appears solid. They’ve got a very talented DE combo in Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey and some good size on the interior of the DL. The LB corps has two legit Big Ten talents in Mohamed Toure (#2 tackles, 8.5 TFL) and Tyreem Powell, and the secondary is probably the strongest level of the stop unit (#22 per Phil Steele). We anticipate another notable year from the defense, particularly when you consider the schedule (see below).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Scarlet Knights have displayed excellent special teams play since the return of HC Greg Schiano and they’ll have a reliable kicking game this year given the return of PK Jai Patel (15/18 FG LY, 2-4 from 50+) and the addition of Australian punter Jakob Anderson. Note that whilst Rutgers was #1 in KR LY they only had five (!) returns all season so that stat is a bit misleading to say the least.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. <falls off chair>
Ok, we’re back. Leave it to a school from New Jersey to figure out how to avoid Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Oregon, AND Iowa. The non-conference schedule features a pair of TOMATO CANS (Howard, Akron) but the trip to Virginia Tech probably won’t be enjoyable.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Virginia Tech (Sept 21)
The Hokies have one of the best teams in the ACC (!) and they’ll be looking to avenge last year’s loss at Rutgers (L 35-16).
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 13
Over 6.5 -115
Under 6.5 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
The roster is improved and they should be able to parcel together seven wins with that schedule. We’d really like ‘over 6’ but haven’t been able to track one down.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
After their unfortunate win over the Hurricanes that got them to 7-6 last year, the Scarlet Knights finished up with their first winning season since 2014 (8-5).
Rutgers has been a legit ATS bully over the L10Y (16-8, 67% as home chalk; 21-11, 66% in non-conference play) but not very good over that time horizon in the role of home underdog (15-25-1, 38%).
New Jersey is best known for mobsters, industrial waste, and millions of unclaimed body parts buried in swamps. The people we’ve met there have all been really nice, so there’s that too.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It’s time to CHOP WOOD, bay-bee! The Scarlet Knights have an average roster by Big Ten standards but you can’t help but wonder what kind of damage these guys can do with that schedule. Is it possible they’re part of the conversation heading into November? We don’t think the QB play will be strong enough to enable a special season but we fully expect Rutgers to go bowling and give most teams a tough game.