It's Rutgers football Gameday!

Yes yes, still August on the calendar for a couple more days but it's fall enough and tonight friends Rutgers embarks upon a whole new world with expectations that come from a new league. Tonight finds the Scarlet Knights out at Wazzou, Washington State in Seattle at 10pm. Before we get to much into the great unknowns of matchup sand what to look for in a way Johnny is very glad Rutgers joined the B1G. All these Rutgers gameday threads over the year rang pretty hollow, to write about a school you never went to or played in a league one is familiar not with. NOW Johnny can actually put some feeling into them (sorry no refunds on the back dated ones) as Rutgers tonight really runs out under the Big Ten banner for the first time. Rutgers is the birthplace of college football. As Steve Politi said today in the Star-Ledger though they're about to see that headstart from 1896 evaporated long ago. Rutgers who, if they lose to a smaller team, now gets slagged by the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan fans and not Louisville, Cincinnati or Connecticut. Rutgers more than ever needs to step up their game all across the board. This B1G fans wishes them the best in doing so.

OK, Washington State. They can't run. They can't defend and they give up a lot of points. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it? Here's the kicker, they were 4th last year out of over 200 teams in passing. Wazzou is going to pass on first down, second down and third down. They may pass some on 4th down as well. Pass happy is one way to put the WSU offense. Wide-open is another. So, Scarlet Knight fans, how do you feel about your pass rush and defensive secondary? This is a tough game for Rutgers. Washington State has been running these short passing drills all summer. There is every chance they are already up to speed whereas an offense like RU that relies on running to set up the pass does take longer in a first game to make things click. Rutgers cannot get down if they get behind by a score or two early. Their attack will take some time to keep pounding on a hapless WSU run defense. Make no mistakes here, Rutgers is going to need at least 28+ points to win this game so they'll have to be prepared BUT slow and steady is the only way to win this game. Get into a shootout and you may lose 56-40.

So game one of a new era in Piscataway being started waaaay across the country tonight. Johnny gives all RU fans permission to stay up past your bedtimes and if needed will send email excuse notes to your bosses for anyone who asks for one.

Fearless Forecast:
B1G Rutgers 31
Wazzou 30