Beware the favored Scarlet Knights

Over the last three college football seasons, Rutgers has a sub-par 6-7 record against the spread, and since 1992, the Scarlet Knights are 7-9 against the spread when they’ve been favored between 10 1/2 and 21 points.

Numbers to consider heading into tonight’s game between Rutgers and Navy, with the Scarlet Knights favored by 12 1/2 points at Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers, which will not play an away game until Oct. 13, has won eight in a row at home, including a 38-3 victory over Buffalo to open the season on Aug. 30. The Scarlet Knights are also 7-5 against the spread against Navy since 1992, including winning the last two meetings between the teams.

But Navy has not been an easy to team to cover against since 2004, with the Midshipmen posting an 8-2 record on the road against the spread. Last week, however, Navy won at Temple, 30-19, but failed to cover the spread as three-touchdown favorites.

Baseball

Ex-pitcher Rick Ankiel has not only provided a feel-good story for St. Louis this season with his remarkable comeback as an outfielder, he has also delivered victories against the spread for the Cardinals.

Since Ankiel became a regular in the lineup on Aug. 9, the Cardinals have gone 17-9 against the spread, including a 16-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday. Ankiel, who had two home runs and a career-high seven runs batted in on Thursday, has provided the type of punch the Cardinals have needed in their lineup.

St. Louis, which is in the hunt for the National League Central title, begins an important three-game series tonight at Arizona. If the Diamondbacks are to slow the Cardinals down, they have to keep an eye on Ankiel, who is batting .357 on the road with a .419 on-base percentage.

Right-hander Brandon Webb, who leads Arizona with 14 wins and a 2.91 earned-run average, will have the first chance to face Ankiel, who has not played against the Diamondbacks this season.

Tennis

According to BetBrain.com, a $1 bet on Justine Henin to defeat Venus Williams in today’s U.S. Open women’s semifinal and eventually win the Grand Slam event would pay $1.90. A $1 wager on Williams to win her final two matches would pay $3.50.

--

lonnie.white@latimes.com