Rutgers vs. Boston College prediction, odds, time: 2026 Week 2 college football picks by proven model — SkimNews
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- Rutgers (5-7 in 2025, 2-7 Big Ten) and Boston College (2-10 overall, 1-7 ACC) meet Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., both seeking their first win after Week 1 losses to UMass (37-21) and Cincinnati (34-15).
- Boston College is a 3-point favorite over Rutgers, with the over/under set at 53.5 points, down four points from the opening line.
- SportsLine Projection Model, which is on a 33-20 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks since 2024 and was upgraded for 2026 to better factor in the transfer portal, simulated the game 10,000 times and projects the Over 53.5 to hit in 62% of simulations with a projected 60 combined points.
- Rutgers QB Dylan Lonergan, a former Boston College quarterback, went 16-of-29 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the loss to UMass, with top target WR K.J. Duff hauling in nine catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
- Boston College QB Mason McKenzie, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State, passed for 223 yards and one touchdown and added 78 rushing yards on 20 carries in his debut at Cincinnati, with WR Javarius Green leading receivers at six catches for 74 yards.
- Rutgers averaged 28.7 points per game in 2025, including 34, 45 and 60 in its first three non-conference games, while Boston College averaged 25.4 points with 66 and 40 in its first two non-league contests.
Why it matters: The model gives the Over 53.5 a quantified 62% hit rate across 10,000 simulations, and its 33-20 money-line record since 2024 is the kind of stated track record that makes its picks consequential for bettors at legal sportsbooks. Both teams' Week 1 losses expose real defensive weakness — Rutgers gave up 37 to UMass, Boston College allowed 34 at Cincinnati — which directly supports a higher-scoring projection than the 53.5 line implies.
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