Rutgers and Boston College are both looking for an immediate reset Friday night when the former Big East rivals meet at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with each team entering at 0-1 after a difficult start to the 2026 college football season.
Rutgers’ opener couldn’t have gone worse. The Scarlet Knights were beaten 37-21 at home by UMass, allowing the Minutemen to score 30 consecutive points after Rutgers opened the game with a touchdown. UMass finished with 397 total yards, including 200 on the ground, while Rutgers struggled to establish any balance offensively.
Turnovers made an already difficult night considerably worse. Starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw three interceptions and lost a fumble before leaving with an injury, and he has not practiced this week. That opens the door for AJ Surace, who is scheduled to make the first start of his college career Friday night.
Surace provided one of the few encouraging moments late in the loss, completing 6 of 9 passes for 77 yards and leading a 75-yard touchdown drive in his only extended action. He finished that possession with a six-yard TD pass to KJ Duff, who was easily Rutgers’ most productive offensive player in Week 1.
Boston College returns home searching for a much cleaner performance after falling 34-15 at Cincinnati. The Eagles trailed 10-0 at halftime and 24-0 late in the third quarter before finally reaching the end zone, eventually allowing 254 rushing yards in the loss.
Quarterback Mason McKenzie accounted for much of Boston College’s offense in his first FBS start. The Saginaw Valley State transfer threw for 223 yards and one touchdown while also leading the Eagles with 78 rushing yards. Boston College finished with 388 total yards but struggled to turn drives into points until the second half.
Friday marks the 29th meeting between Rutgers and Boston College. The Eagles own a 20-7-1 advantage in the series, although Rutgers won the most recent matchup 22-21 at Alumni Stadium in 2022 after rallying from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Rutgers vs. Boston College Odds
Boston College is a 3.5-point home favorite for Friday night’s matchup at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Rutgers +3.5 (-120) | Boston College -3.5 (+100)
- Moneyline: Rutgers +135 | Boston College -165
- Total: Over 53.5 (-115) | Under 53.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for Rutgers vs. Boston College
Rutgers +3.5 (-120): There is no sugarcoating what happened to Rutgers in its opener. The Scarlet Knights were beaten by 16 points at home by UMass as a 29.5-point favorite, turned the ball over four times and were outplayed for essentially the entire game.
That result leaves Rutgers with little choice but to respond Friday night. Rather than being asked to win outright, the Scarlet Knights are catching more than a field goal against a Boston College team that is also coming off a lopsided defeat.
A change at quarterback could help Rutgers turn the page. Lonergan’s debut included three interceptions and a lost fumble before an injury forced him out, while Surace will now get his first opportunity to run the offense from the opening snap.
Surace is inexperienced, but he was efficient during his late appearance against UMass. He also spent the offseason competing with Lonergan for the starting job, making this less of an emergency situation than a typical move to an untested backup.
The surrounding passing game gives him something to work with immediately. Duff was responsible for 196 receiving yards and all three Rutgers touchdowns in Week 1, including one score from Surace on the final possession.
Boston College has its own problems to correct after allowing 34 points and 254 rushing yards at Cincinnati. The Eagles did not score until late in the third quarter and now return home with plenty of pressure to avoid an 0-2 start of their own.
Rutgers does not need to erase every issue from the opener in one night. It simply needs a considerably more disciplined performance, particularly when it comes to protecting the football. With Surace offering a fresh look at quarterback and more than a field goal available against another team coming off a poor Week 1 showing, the Scarlet Knights are worth backing to stay within the number.
- Best Bet: Rutgers +3.5 (-120)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Boston College is drawing the majority of bets on both the moneyline and spread:
- Moneyline: Boston College has received 75.9% of the tickets and 64.1% of the money wagered.
- Spread: Boston College -3.5 represents 68.9% of the bets, however Rutgers +3.5 accounts for 65.5% of the handle.
- Total: Over 53.5 has a modest edge in both categories, collecting 58.6% of the tickets and 58.8% of the money.
Rutgers vs. Boston College Game Info
- šļø Location: Alumni Stadium – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- š Date: Friday, September 11
- ā° Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- šŗ Where to Watch: ESPN2
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