The 2023 Pinstripe Bowl is taking place at Yankee Stadium in New York. We have a matchup of the 6-6 Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the 7-5 Miami Hurricanes. Rutgers comes into this one losing their last four games. The Scarlet Knights have appeared in 11 bowl games in their program’s history. They are 6-5 in those games. Miami comes into this one losing three out of their last four games. The Hurricanes have appeared in 41 bowl games in their program’s history. They are 19-22. Rutgers is a 2.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 41.5. Here is my preview for the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl. 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were red hot in their first 8 games as they won six out of their first eight. However, after a rough stretch, the Scarlet Knights finished the season with a 6-6 record. They struggled offensively this season, as they average 22.6 points per game and average 314.6 total yards of offense per game. The playmaker for the Scarlet Knights offense is running back Kyle Monangai. Monangai rushed for 1,099 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry and added 7 rushing touchdowns. He is the key to this offense’s success. Monangai rushed for over 100+ yards in six games this season. Rutgers has a 4-2 record in those games. If he can do that against Miami, they should have a good shot at winning this bowl matchup.

Defensively is where Rutgers shined in 2023. They allow 21 points per game and give up 323.6 total yards. Rutgers holds opponents to 175.9 passing yards per game which ranks them 31st in the nation. The Scarlet Knights will be without star cornerback Max Melton as he is opting out of the bowl game. Rutgers gave up 30+ points in three games in 2023. They went 0-3 in those three games. This offense isn’t built to play in a shootout, so if they want to win this defense needs to play at the level they were playing during the first eight games of the season. 

Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are going through a little rebuild here. Offensively, they averaged 32.1 points per game to go along with 449.5 total yards of offense. Miami’s starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke transferred to Wisconsin and back up Emory Williams is injured, so they will look to start Jacurri Brown at quarterback for the bowl game. Brown is a sophomore quarterback that was a former four star recruit. He got some playing time last year and I think he can get this Miami team where they need to be. The Hurricanes will be without four offensive starters which hurts them. For Brown, he will have Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George (Miami’s two leading receivers) in this bowl game. Miami’s offense runs through those two and they will be key in this bowl matchup.

Defensively, the Hurricanes were good in 2023. They allowed 22.1 points per game while giving up 343.3 total yards of offense per game. Miami is in the top 25 in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game. They give up under 100 rushing yards per game which is an incredible feat. The Hurricanes will be without five or six starters on defense including both of their starting safeties James Williams and Kamren Kinchens. Not having those two will hurt Miami’s defense. The Hurricanes have given up 30+ points in three games in 2023 and they were 1-2 in those games. If Miami wants to win, they are going to have to keep the Rutgers offense off the field as much as possible. 

Betting Trends

-Rutgers is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

-The over is 4-2 in Rutgers’ last 6 games.

-Miami is 9-0 straight up in their 9 meetings with Rutgers.

-The over is 5-2 in Miami’s last 7 games.

The Don’s Best Bet

I have one play in this Pinstripe Bowl matchup. My official play is Rutgers -130 for one unit. The Hurricanes are missing a lot of key pieces here and I think that hurts them. Offensively, they have their two top receivers but they go up against a good Rutgers pass defense. I think this is a low scoring affair at the Pinstripe Bowl, but Rutgers will walk out victorious in their first bowl victory since 2014.