Rutgers at Northwestern Week 7 College Football Matchup Rutgers at Northwestern Matchup - Week 7
Sat, Oct 16 2021 · Week 7 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Rutgers✈ 693 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
7 21
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Rutgers
24
Northwestern
19
P&R Line Rutgers -5.5
P&R Total O/U 43
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Rutgers -2.5 · O/U 45.0
Matchup Prediction
Rutgers has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Rutgers entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Rutgers wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
Rutgers wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Rutgers -2.5
O/U 45.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Rutgers · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Northwestern Coming off BYE
Rutgers 2021 Schedule
Rutgers's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Rutgers vs Temple-14.0W61–1452.0W61–14OY
Sat 9/11Rutgers at Syracuse-2.5W17–750.5W17–7UY
Sat 9/18Rutgers vs Delaware-20.0W45–1345.0W45–13OY
Sat 9/25Rutgers at Michigan+20.0L13–2050.0L13–20UY
Sat 10/2Rutgers vs Ohio State+15.0L13–5258.0L13–52ON
Sat 10/9Rutgers vs Michigan State+4.5L13–3150.0L13–31UN
Sat 10/16Rutgers at Northwestern-2.5L7–2145.0L7–21UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Rutgers at Illinois-1.5W20–1441.5W20–14UY
Sat 11/6Rutgers vs Wisconsin+13.0L3–5237.5L3–52ON
Sat 11/13Rutgers at Indiana+6.5W38–342.5W38–3UY
Sat 11/20Rutgers at Penn State+14.0L0–2844.5L0–28UN
Sat 11/27Rutgers vs Maryland-2.0L16–4053.0L16–40ON
Fri 12/31Rutgers vs Wake Forest+17.0L10–3863.0L10–38UN
Northwestern 2021 Schedule
Northwestern's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Northwestern vs Michigan State-3.0L21–3845.5L21–38ON
Sat 9/11Northwestern vs Indiana State-28.5W24–646.0W24–6UN
Sat 9/18Northwestern at Duke-2.5L23–3050.0L23–30ON
Sat 9/25Northwestern vs Ohio-13.5W35–647.5W35–6UY
Sat 10/2Northwestern at Nebraska+11.0L7–5651.5L7–56ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Northwestern vs Rutgers+2.5W21–745.0W21–7UY
Sat 10/23Northwestern at Michigan+23.5L7–3351.5L7–33UN
Sat 10/30Northwestern vs Minnesota+7.5L14–4143.5L14–41ON
Sat 11/6Northwestern vs Iowa+11.5L12–1740.5L12–17UY
Sat 11/13Northwestern at Wisconsin+26.0L7–3541.5L7–35ON
Sat 11/20Northwestern vs Purdue+11.0L14–3247.5L14–32UN
Sat 11/27Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L14–4745.0L14–47ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Rutgers PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Rutgers
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Rutgers
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Rutgers
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Rutgers
+0.354
Northwestern
+0.346
Rutgers Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Rutgers
+0.260
Northwestern
+0.560
Northwestern Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Rutgers
0.172
Northwestern
0.120
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Rutgers Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Rutgers
+7.693
Northwestern
+6.494
Rutgers Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Rutgers
+0.858
Northwestern
+0.782
Rutgers Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Rutgers
69.6
Northwestern
73.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Rutgers Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Northwestern Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Rutgers
-2.0
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Rutgers
13.9
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Rutgers
15.9
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Rutgers Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Rutgers #126
0.80
Northwestern #133
0.75
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Rutgers #94
0.80
Northwestern #137
1.50
Rutgers +0.05
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Rutgers Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Rutgers #1
43.0
Northwestern #1
40.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Rutgers #103
47.3
Northwestern #121
56.9
Rutgers +2.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Rutgers, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Rutgers
Greg Schiano #1
6–6 (50%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Sean Gleeson Yr 1 #1
DC Robb Smith Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald #1
107–83 (56%) · Yr 16 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 1 #1
DC Jim O'Neil Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself