The Scarlet Knights under Chris Ash sit at 4-7. After a miserable and truly pathetic 2-10 season a year ago they have doubled their win total but is this a truly 'feel good' about the two game improvement we're really going places or just a tiny bit better? Our answer is, and you'll hate us for punting, but we won't know if it's real improvement until next year. For every good 14-12 win at Purdue there was a 16-13 loss to Eastern Michigan at home. For every good win vs Maryland and Illinois there were still outright drubbings by Ohio State and INDIANA. For a few weeks they can run then the well runs dry. For a couple games the passing game looks passable then, dumptown. With the next recruiting class in it will take until this time next year to see if RU is going to press for bowl eligibility in their last two games of if god forbid they backslide. We'll say this, they competed well in the B1G this year, certainly better than predicted.
Every two years Sparty comes to town and every two years Johnny and Mrs. Johnny take on the hell that is NJ Transit who dumped an entire train of MSU & Rutgers fans in Rahway in 2015 after assuring them all (about 20 fans) that train that left Newark was going to New Brunswick. An Uber ride with RU fans met on the train saved the day and kickoff. 15 yard penalty on NJ Transit for targeting the wrong stop. last time a wobbly #4 Spartan team and in on a Saturday night and RU gave them all they could stand and only walked out victorious after RU QB Chris Laviano spiked the ball on 4th down denying the Scarlet Knights a chance at a hail mary. The key that night was RU stopped the Spartan running attack.
They'll badly need to do that again today. MSU had become quite the passing team as the year has gone on, leaving that 'pound green pound' persona gained over the last few seasons of success with Javon Ringer, Le'Veon Bell & the LJ Scott battering ram of two years ago, not the chronic fumbler of this year. Last week vs Maryland however the old ground attack was back with a vengeance and with Sparty being of single mind today, "Flip it" (Meaning 3-9 last year to a possible 9-3 this year) they'd love nothing more than to dull this one down and unleash Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes again and again and again on a Rutgers defense that struggles mightily against the run. However if RU can slow the Spartan ground game, Chris Lewerke has plenty of targets to throw to. Felton Davis III should be on a lot of all-Big Ten teams with is 45 receptions for 586 yard and 8 of Lewerke's 16 TD passes. He's a big target who catches well and well in traffic.
Rutgers best advantage is one they'll have to make themselves, sow doubt in MSU's mind. If Sparty loses today this whole feel-good season or redemption and turn around somewhat ends as a buffed turd. Losing to a team with Rutgers record and not completing their 'flip' and suddenly the shine comes off 2017. As Dom DeLuise said in History of the World Part I, "Nice....not thrilling....but nice." There was a great article on it written in the Lansing State Journal. This game means a LOT to Michigan Sate, if RU can drag them into the deep water of the 4th quarter, like 2015, anything can happen.
Offensively, well, ugh. Johnny thought there was a good chance for RU last weekend before last place Indiana handed the Scarlet Knights their lunch 41-0. Has the RU offense checked out? Are they capable of running the ball against an awful tough team to run against? Are they willing to simply air it out today against a defense that brings pressure but puts corners and safeties in one on one coverage? DING DING DING! RU has to throw and throw well. Look, nothing to lose but everything to gain. Option passes, reverse passes, going for it on 4th down, throw caution to the wind and that does go to the idea of RU causing MSU some doubt. Sure that kind of gameplan can backfire but standing toe-to-toe with MSU in the trenches is a losing plan.
Like we said, last call on the Rutgers season. While RU might enjoy a night vodka tonic or Manhattan before they go, we kind of have a feeling tonight it'll be Boone's Farm wine.
Fearless Forecast
Michigan State 31
Rutgers 20
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