Rutgers football Gameday Homecoming Edition!

It's Homecoming in Piscataway and for once the alumni are coming home to a winning streak. Sure sure, it's one game and was preceded by a long losing streak but today for one day, it's about the win.

A much improved Purdue team arrives today not looking like the automatic W for the opponent they used to be. Purdue, while improved, aren't exactly Ohio State yet either. They will come into RU hoping not to fall victim to the team most consider the worst in the B1G. Purdue has made some positive strides this season, those might be considered lost with a road loss to the Scarlet Knights.

Purdue is a road favorite for first time in 5 years today, coming in as 8 point favorites. Johnny thinks that's hogwash. RU has the momentum and again, Purdue isn't OSU or MSU or Wisconsin right now; They're a good up and coming story but there are still hurdles to clear before they even become Iowa or Indiana. Johnny thinks today could be one of those hurdles.

RU RB's Gus Edwards and Raheem Blackshear will need a similar effort as Illinois. Run the ball, shorten the game, makes it easy on Giovanni Rescigno should he see the majority of playing time again this week or Kyle Bolin in relief. Purdue will want to open and spread the field. Rutgers can't let them pass all day and cannot let the Boilers keep the ball. RU at the end of the day needs time of possession to land on their side of the ledger.

Purdue looking for bowl game eligibility which will give them plenty of emotion and fight though Johnny thinks the back tot he wall keep bowl hopes alive tend to come in weeks 10-11-12. So, somebody gets second conference win today and either way it will hopefully change impressions. A Purdue team looking to play in a bowl would change tat impression of being a dump program in a dump town. If RU can get their second win in a row maybe, just maybe Chris Ash can get some breathing room even for a week. Two wins in a row would be a high point for the program in the B1G and that chance comes today in High Point Stadium

So, a crossroads for two teams today in Piscataway. One looking to keep climbing and one looking to set their feet on solid ground. It's a glorious day for football in New Jersey today and Johnny sees no reason to spoil the party now.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 28
Purdue 25

Rutgers football Gameday!

When we saw the sun come up this morning over New Jersey, OK for argument's sake let's pretend we all saw the sun come up, was there a little extra aura 'round these parts with the sun? A little something something in the air? Could it be.....hope?

Look, the B1G losing streak is long and getting longer. However the Scarlet Knights are in Champale-Urbana today vs the Lovie Smith-led Illini. The Fighting Illini on paper don't send shudders down anybody's spine. Don't believe Johnny? Check out this graphic from the ESPN:










There's nothing there that says Rutgers can't win this game. Defense isn't the problem and therein lies the hope. Johnny has long thought that the day Rutgers breaks the B1G losing streak it'd be on the road away from the jeers, the pressures, and overall malaise that has overtaken Piscataway. Today is the day, Johnny just has a feeling.

The biggest key to today is a fast start by the Scarlet Knights. Former Red Wings and now Maple Loafs coach Mike Babcock always preaches showing up ready to compete with your compete level being high and starting on time. Babcock seems to know winning. Rutgers, Start. On. Time. Pop Illinois in the nose, get a lead, work on that lead. Again, there is nothing in those offensive stats above that say Illinois is a comeback team. Want some more hope with coffee this morning? For as poor as the Illini offense is, the defense is worse. If the football field is a parkway the toll booths are open and you can E-Z Pass and run on Illinois. Lovie's Eleven are giving up an average of 248 yards through the air and 181 on the ground. For as average at the RU offense has been there should be the ability to step up today, you're not facing OSU, MSU or U-M's defense, open the playbook, let the kids PLAY. Johnny thinks the offensive key is Rutgers play-action passing today. Illinois gives up a lot on the ground, this should open the medium range passing game. Again, nothing fancy, a nice medium range game could be enough. It'll allow Kyle Bolin to stay in a comfort zone.

Defensively, take some chances today Coach Ash, again, PLAY football. Jeff George Jr. is not going to beat you throwing, he's not. Challenge him, make him move. 1 TD and 5 INT's? The defensive Rutgers players should be bouncing off the walls inside their locker room about 11:45 Central Daylight Time and ready to make a difference.

Sure, Illinois is on a two game winning streak -- against Western Kentucky and Ball State. When faced with B1G talent Big Chief Illiniwek has fared about as well as Rutgers has.

So, Johnny is today the day?

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 27
Illinois 24

Rutgers Football Gameday!

Sure, sure, you love Rutgers, its why you clicked. Not many bandwagon fans hanging around the Garden State for RU football anymore. But you did click here and we are going to give you a proper Gameday thread (and feel free to comment during the game) despite the longest losing streak in America, despite the fact it's Morgan State and despite it's the last time the Scarlet Knights will be favored from here until Thanksgiving.

While focusing on one player in Bo Melton, NJ.com writer Steve Politi is spot on in his analysis of 'let's get the kids going, it'll be their program soon enough and let's get them some experience' going forward. RU does need to see what Chris Ash's recruits can contribute NOW. What are they waiting for? Here's a chance to have some success today with this young and supposedly talented corps of receivers and carry it into B1G play. Find out what the kids have, you'll rely on them as early as next week as Rutgers lacks the depth a lot of other B1G programs have right now. Get their uniforms dirty coach, they'll wash them.

OC Jerry Kill has to figure out what in tarnation he's going to do and actually mange a 2 QB system with Kyle Bolin and Johnathan Lewis. Lewis played for two plays last week, both awful and that was the end of him. Is he really a QB who is going to come into certain wildcat or other sets and do something or just be a novelty? Again, get the kids' jerseys dirty. Eastern Michigan is a good college team. A program on the come but let's face it, Bolin looked like he was playing Alabama last week. Kill is a well considered OC who has had a lot of success at this level but this is on him to make this work. In the meantime today, RUN. THE. BALL. 40 times at least.

Defensively the Scarlet Knights defense is the only reason EMU didn't win by 10 or more. They will have to find ways, and why not start today as practice makes perfect, to be stern and studly and keep RU in games or this season is a 1-11 disaster. Even if it means they have to take the odd chance in the secondary to jump a route and get a score, yeah, this is the engine that'll have to drive the bus.

Morgan State comes into today's matchup in Piscataway not having scored any points in 2017 (Like Johnny). Seriously, if Rutgers doesn't win this game and by a good margin -- questions about the Ash era are going to become the only question around the RU Athletic Department.

Fearless Forecast:
Rutgers 31
Morgan State 7