UMass Minutemen vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Prediction for Thursday, September 3, 2026
The UMass Minutemen visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. ET at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. UMass finished last season 0-12 overall and 0-8 in MAC play, while Rutgers went 5-7 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The Minutemen lost 11 of 12 games last season by double-digits, while Rutgers lost 40-36 to Penn State in its finale. Rutgers is a 29.5-point favorite after opening at -30.5, with the total moving from 55.5 to 53.5. Start the college football season with our free NCAAF picks.
UMass Minutemen Preview
UMass enters Joe Harasymiak's second season looking for major improvement after averaging only 11.1 points and 247.5 yards per game in 2025. The Minutemen have rebuilt the offense through the transfer portal, with quarterbacks William "Pop" Watson III and RJ Johnson providing new options. Justin Williams-Thomas and Jordan Washington should strengthen the running game, while Joseph Griffin, Randall King and Devin Matthews were added at receiver. Better ball control will be important after UMass struggled to sustain drives throughout last season.
The defense also requires significant improvement after recording only 13 sacks and consistently struggling to get off the field. Linebacker Tyler Martin returns after leading UMass with 103 tackles, while Joshua Iseah arrives after making 83 stops for North Carolina A&T. Andrew Depaepe, Justin Krueger and Zachary Betts were added to improve a pass rush that lost leading playmaker Marques White.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview
Rutgers has more proven offensive production despite replacing quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan takes over behind center and will have leading rusher Antwan Raymond back after a 1,241-yard, 13-touchdown season. KJ Duff also returns after catching 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. Rutgers committed only 11 turnovers last season, and improved offensive line play could make the Scarlet Knights difficult for UMass to slow down.
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Defense was Rutgers' major problem last season, finishing 127th nationally while allowing 210 rushing yards per game and producing only 11 sacks. New defensive coordinator Travis Johansen inherits a unit reinforced heavily through the portal. Malachi Davis and J'Dan Burnett combined for 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss at their previous schools, while defensive backs Kevyn Humes, Bradley Jones and Zahmir Dawud were brought in to strengthen the secondary.
UMass Minutemen vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Prediction
UMass has upgraded its roster, but asking a rebuilt offense to immediately compete against a Big Ten opponent on the road is difficult. Rutgers has two proven playmakers in Raymond and Duff and should be able to establish the running game against a Minutemen defense that remains a major question. The Scarlet Knights also have enough new defensive personnel to pressure whichever UMass quarterback gets the majority of the work. A spread approaching 30 points creates a significant margin to cover, but UMass lost 10 games by lopsided margins last season and ended the year with defeats of 45-14, 42-14, and 45-3. Rutgers should control possession and gradually pull away. Final Score Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights win and cover ATS, 42-10.
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- Rutgers Scarlet Knights -29.5 (-115)
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