Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Kansas State Wildcats Prediction, Odds and Picks for Thursday, 12/26/24

The bowl season starts to pick up on the day after Christmas, and we are looking to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix for a Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Kansas State Wildcats prediction. This line has been moving around quite a bit as we get more information about who is playing and who is opting out, but at the time of this writing, Kansas State is favored by about a touchdown. If this were a regular season game with everyone available and playing as normal, this game would be a slam dunk K-State pick for me. The Wildcats are a run-heavy team, and Rutgers can’t stop the run at all. And I would also trust the K-State defense to bottle up the Knights. But given the changing dynamics of the postseason, I actually prefer the Scarlet Knights in this one, and my pick is Rutgers +6.5.

Let’s start with opt-outs. Most importantly, DJ Giddens is out for Kansas State. The workhorse running back is sitting this one out to prepare for the NFL draft (as is CB Jacob Parrish). No other RB on this roster has seen meaningful carries, and it is hard to overstate the hit the Wildcats take on offense without Giddens. For Rutgers, there are guys we aren’t sure of, chief among them running back Kyle Monangai. We’ll have to see what happens there. Then we have the issue of form—Rutgers closed the season winning 3 of their last 4, while Kansas State fell apart, losing 3 of their last 4. Rutgers comes in feeling hopeful about the future, while Kansas State can’t help but lament what might have been. Which also brings us to motivation. Rutgers is happy to be here after losing their first 4 conference games and being left for dead. Kansas State thought they could win the Big 12 before collapsing late. Without Giddens and without much motivation for being here, I don’t like this spot for Kansas State. Give me the State University of New Jersey to at least cover in the Rate Bowl.

Rutgers vs Kansas State Prediction: Rutgers +6.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.