Rutgers football Gameday!

Last call in Piscataway today for the Rutgers 2017 season. Michigan State (And Johnny) will make up the opposition today but before we dig into today's particulars, how did RU really do this season?

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

Rutgers football Gameday!

On the road for the last road game of the season in Bloomington Indiana today with a noon kickoff as the Scarlet Knights look DOWN at the Hoosiers in the B1G East standings.

What's that? There are TWO teams below Rutgers in the B1G East right now? It's true, a very strong second half of the season shows RU ahead of both the Hoosiers and Maryland. A win today would assure the Scarlet Knights of no less than 5th in the loaded East. Who among you had RU coming in right behind the Murderer's Row of Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Pedd State? Maryland and Indiana, who are they?

OK, let's not get too cocky but it's fun to even jest about these matter this late into November.

Indiana comes into the game in last place at 1-6 in B1G conference play. Wait a second, it's around here somewhere...

So, Indiana comes into today in last place in B1G conference play as the offensive juggernaut of the last few seasons never materialized. Can Rutgers keep it good and hibernated for another week?

That's why Johnny's writes these things.

First off, records aside, Johnny thinks this one will be close. Rutgers gives about about as many points as IU averages. The Hoosier defense gives up a tad more scoring than Rutgers. So our key to success? The same way they beat Illinois and Purdue, KISS, Keep.It.Simple.Stupid. Run the ball. RU averages around 166 yards a game on terra firma and will most likely need something close today. At Michigan State the mantra when the ground game is going well is, "Pound Green Pound" and if RU can get a "Pound Red Pound" today and control the clock they'll at least be in the game with better than a 50/50 chance to win. Indiana gives up a stingy 150+ on the ground so effort and lack of holding or false start penalties will be needed. Johnny's actual game key today for the Scarlet Knights is penalties. Composure on the road for a young growing team is vital.

If there ever was a time for Chris Ash to play the 'no respect' card it is today. Huddled away in a dump of a locker room in Bloomington Ash can point out despite being two games ahead of IU in the standings they are 10.5 point underdogs. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has IU at 76% likely to win today. Win today, and hope for the best vs Sparty next week in Piscataway and this season, this expected moribund season could end at 6-6. Could, might, maybe. All those words start today.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 30
Indiana 25

Rutgers football Gameday!

Here we are with our little Rutgers Gameday thread and on a two game winning-streak to boot! That's right, a two game Big Ten winning-streak which makes today's game that much more enjoyable if you allow yourselves to dream RU fans. Why, a win today would level the Scarlet Knights record at 4-4 and move them into fourth place ahead of Michigan in the B1G East and people might just start thinking bowl game.

But first, Michigan, in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor today at noon. Let's take a look-see.

The Detroit and SE Michigan media are not being very kind to Jim Harbaugh. They've started pointing out he's the third highest paid coach in NCAA football and they expect more than a 1-4 record vs MSU and OSU and fourth place in the B1G East.. Getting waxed by other B1G teams doesn't help. So no doubt after he does his "Who's got it better than us" song to the team, the Wolverines will run through that tunnel expecting a big bounce back and an easy Homecoming win. Will they get it?

Can Rutgers stop Michigan from running and setting up play action? Can the RU corners spend one great afternoon this year playing like flypaper? That's what it's gonna take friends. We don't think the RU offense will get that much going consistently enough to scare Michigan, even with their pop-gun offense. Defense defense defense must be the order of the day. Somehow Chris Ash's charges must keep Michigan 17 points or under and under 100 yards rushing. Sure, it's a tall order but that's what great wins are made from.

At some point Michigan is going to want to get their next big thing QB of the future Brandon Peters onto the field. RU will see him one of two ways, John O'Korn is awful and inefficient like he was in the rain vs. Michigan State OR he'll come in with Michigan comfortably ahead. Gonna be up to Rutgers to see how that plays out. Either way, expect Jim Harbaugh to find Peters some game time today. Know who else will see the field a LOT? Karan Higdon, Michigan's bell cow running back. He's probably ready to run through walls about now knowing he'll be a big part of Michigan's game planning. Watch what kind of first quarter numbers he puts up. Good or bad it may start to tell what kind of game this will be. The most successful Jim Harbaugh, the Stanford and early Michigan Jim Harbaugh pounded the ball behind a mammoth offensive line and took no prisoners. Two and three tight ends, fullbacks, it was big and imposing. If Michigan starts with long passes and reverses and special teams trickery it would seem he's playing to his critics.

It's just a fact the Wolverines are bigger and stronger in those trenches with many more impact players and important positions. They have a coach ESPN cannot shut up about. They have the history.

So why are they 6-5 their last 11 games?

THAT right there is what RU has to tap into to get the win. Doubt in Michigan's minds. Right now, for the first time really in Johnny's life, Michigan is waiting for something bad to happen near the ends of games. Been that way since the RichRod days. Rutgers cannot afford getting down 14-0 or 17-3 in the first half and make today work. While current Minnesota and former Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck preaches rowing the boat, RU today must "sow that doubt" all around Michigan Stadium. Easier said than done.

When all is said and done in Ann Arbor, and the fans have moved on to Zingermann's or The Real Seafood company, the Mongolian Bar-B-Que or the White Castle on Carpenter and Packard, how does this one play out Johnny, and what about that two game winning streak?

Fearless Forecast
Michigan 30
Rutgers 14

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

We'd love to write up a Rutgers Gameday thread

But alas, RU has the week off before heading back into B1G play next weekend at Illinois, a winning game. Make sure to come back for the world famous Saturday night Scoreboard Show later tonight.

Rutgers Football Gameday!

OK, we know. We all now what today is and who is coming to town tonight. Urban Meyer and the Columbus Eleven arrive and everything we know, read or feel tells us the Buckeyes should have little trouble with Rutgers tonight in Piscataway.

Or does it?

Harken back a couple years ago when Michigan State came into RU for a Saturday night game, ranked #4 in the country and they barely escaped (and were helped with the spiked 4th down pass). Rutgers came up with a magnificent effort, a loud crowd and a belief that once the game got to the 4th quarter they COULD win it. How does that scenario come back around tonight? Let's look.

MSU came into that game with a decimated O-line and lost #1 RB Madre London on the first drive. Ohio State comes in healthy up front (So key) but with some vulnerabilities shown by Oklahoma. It wasn't that the Sooners had superior talent, they had a better scheme. How about it Chris Ash, here's your chance to gameplan a masterpiece. Gotta have it. The Scarlet Knights do have a talent deficiency tonight, its gotta be a great gameplan.

That night against MSU, Rutgers was on attack all night long on defense. They didn't seem to worry if the Spartans hit a big play. They kept coming and you could feel the defense build off of the confidence the coaches had in them. J.T. Barrett is the key and he can do a lot of things well, RU needs to keep him uncomfortable by doing things Rutgers doesn't normally do. Look, if you get buried 55-7 you do, the Bucks are are going to try to run up any score to get back in the playoff discussion. RU has to try something different OSU hasn't seen.

Let's use Michigan State in another way, how they beat OSU in Columbus a couple years back. Low scoring, ball control. MSU always plays OSU tough because they stop the run. In the 2013 Big Ten title game and in Columbus Sparty stuffed the OSU running game and made them pass. They contained the run in a 17-16 loss to Brutus last year. See they key? Running game. 100 yards allowed on the ground is the number the Scarlet Knight defense must keep in mind.

We'd say a couple years back MSU was looking past Rutgers to Michigan (the famed botched punt game) but OSU next week plays Maryland, not a top tier opponent so probably not advantage RU.

Our biggest worry is the Rutgers offense laying an egg. No, an egg. 13 points vs EMU makes nobody confident. Johnny said last week vs Nebraska that RU needed a defensive score to help them keep it close, they got that. Tonight we think they'll need a defensive score, a special teams score and maybe a blocked kick, the holy trinity.

So, yeah, it doesn't look good and right now all RU fans have to go on is faith and hope one day it turns around. A giant upset would help, especially tonight at home. As positive as Johnny tries to be with the RU football program in his Fearless Forecasts, tonight, well, let's just say no golf cart pizza for Urban:

Ohio State 42
Rutgers 16

Rutgers football Gameday!

Rutgers squares off with Nebraska in Lincoln today at 3:30 pm in their first conference game of the season but first, we have something to deal with:

Kyle Flood is a no-brain disgrace of a loser. His lack of control (sounds more like lack of interest) over the Scarlet Knights program has landed RU on NCAA probation for the next two years, thanks from everyone to once again, shithead Kyle Flood. Don't we all just love when losers like Flood run a program into the ground and land them on probation when the door hits them in the ass? Right now my advice to Kyle Flood would be to keep the hell out of New Jersey. Don't even come if the Falcons come play the Giants or Jets.

Nice job Kyle, the NCAA charges really show us what kind of "leader" you were.

OK, RU football. It'll be tough in the longest trip west one can make into B1G country to what a lot of B1G fans say is the friendliest trip you can make. The fans in Lincoln are known for their hospitality for opposing fans. The Huskers team? Not so much.

We're interested to see if last week's blowout win over a Division 1-AA side will really help smooth the burrs out of the RU offense so apparent vs Eastern Michigan. RU will need to score today, at least 20 points and maybe hope for a defensive TD as well. The Huskers score well at home, not so well on the road. The Scarlet Knights will need to put up at least 27 today is our guess and that might not be enough.

Offensively RU must be patient, and consistent. 4-5 yards on first down and the game can really slow down for RU. Positive plays on FIRST down is the key today for the offense, in fact if you show Johnny how Rutgers did in yards on first down plays after the game without watching, he'll tell you how they did.

Somehow, someway the RU defense can't allow more than 24-27 points. For as good as Nebraska can be at times, Johnny recalls a team in Lincoln that sometimes gets sloppy with the ball. IF the RU defense can keep the game close and like we said, get a score or a big play on special teams they CAN keep this close and roll the dice in the fourth quarter. We hope.

This is a game about schemes and offenses and defenses and not so much about individual stars. Both of these teams need strong team efforts as they lack the big stud type star who can own a game. Here's hoping RU can pull together today.

Fearless Forecast:
Nebraska Corhuskers 33
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 20

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

Rutgers Football Gameday!

While every Rutgers fans saw the schedule come out, even after a 2-10 year a lot of fans went "Oooh, we start with Washington, a top ten team, we'll get a great idea where we ar----OH GODDAMMIT, WHAT IS THIS EASTERN MICHIGAN SCHOOL AS A HOME OPENER!!!??"

Sure, a program that until last year laid moribund for 25 years and until last year hadn't been to a  bowl game since 1987. Eastern has been what Rutgers fans feel they are now, a losing program in a tough conference (Don't sleep on the MACtion!) with no way up. Rutgers fans, for their contempt at the game probably all feel, even a weak RU team, is going to roll EMU. B1G vs MAC right? Walkover.

In the words of a college football guru, "Not so fast my friends."

Rutgers better get a lead. Eastern will NOT be outworked in Piscatawy today, it's the whole schtick the program revolves around now. They play HARD for 60 minutes. They won a lot of games last year in the 4th quarter. They condition. Hell, the fact they've changed Rynearson Stadium to "The Factory" tells you how this program sees itself. They went down to Baton Rouge last season, controlled Leonard Fournette and darned near tipped LSU on the road. Honestly, the hard work mantra DID work last year and continues to. A program with zero identity for 30 years now has one. RU is going to find Eastern a tough, and annoying team to play. EMU is also one of those dangerous MAC squads as they have upperclassmen who have experience. Brogan Roback is a quality QB. They have receivers who catch they ball. If EMU gets a lead they will run the ball until the sun goes down. Their offense if effective yet low-risk. EMU played in a bowl game last year (lost by 3) but this is now a program that believes in itself and these kids will run through any wall for head coach Chris Creighton, who was on many voters' short lists for national coach of the year honors.

Now, is EMU as good as we see from MAC school Western Michigan who played in a Big 8 bowl and almost upset #4 USC last weekend? No, they're not. Not yet certainly and Rutgers should have an advantage in player personnel, face it, the B1G lures better players. RU head man Chris Ash has to know he's got an issue today. He HAS to win this game. Lose to a MAC school, no matter their standing, and the bottom falls out of this Scarlet Knights season and the positives taken from the toe-to-toe with #8 Washington last week are all but forgotten. Ash has to put his best players in the best position to control and dominate a game. His ballers have to ball better quite simply. Gus Edwards and the RU backfield have to punish EMU up front and take the clock game Eastern wants to play away from them. RU should be running for 150-200 yards today, but will they? Can the offensive line keep Kyle Bolin upright and looking downfield and grind down the clock? That'll be the key. EMU will move, and will score but Rutgers needs to keep this game 'in front of them'. Rutgers will need their best effort in a long time today, perhaps similar to the tussle they game Michigan State a couple years back when MSU came in #4 in the land and RU almost beat them.

Rutgers better be up for this game because Eastern would LOVE to put a B1G scalp in their trophy case just like rivals Western Michigan and Central Michigan have in their pockets over the years.

Jersey City Desk Fearless Forecast (Alumni Edition)
Eastern Michigan 28
Rutgers 24

Again RU fans, this Brogan Roback is good and you'll be calling him bad names all day is Johnny's guess.

The last straw

It happened this morning, about the time Johnny saw the Red Bulls feed on Twitter coming out with yet another change in bag policies wherein clear bags with draw strings are no longer allowed. What the fuckity fuck ever. Yes, treat everyone who wants to go to your event like a would-be terrorist. If you're to the point a clear bag with draw strings is somehow a McGyver terror kit then Johnny's just done with the lot of you. He had to deal with a shitty brand spanking new bag policy down in New Brunswick at the Michigan State vs Rutgers football game October 10th. Oh hey, we forgot to tell you, yeah her purse can't come in but if you go to the other side of the stadium we have a locker truck set up and for the low low one time price of 10$ we'll hold your wife's purse for the night. Yeah, no planned profiteering going on there. Just a quick explanation of "Well we just decided to go with the NFL policy." Well thanks for telling anyone.

So no Red Bulls, Johnny's enjoyed going in the past but no more. No NFL games, No RU football games, no to anywhere that acts like this. At Devils games they look in your bag and let you in, they haven't given in to this "The guest is not to be trusted" policy so you know it's not some set in stone mandated law as certain venues would like you to believe. Red Bulls, don't call Johnny anymore about ticket plans (he unsubscribed from your constant emails a while ago but that did nothing) or this or that. The team may well be playing deep into the playoffs. Swell, just sell that seat to someone else.

Rutgers cleans house

Both Athletic Director Julie Hermann and and football head coach Kyle Flood have been relived of their duties, duties if they'd done better they'd still have. The letter President Robert Barchi sent released can be read here and NJ.com has given grades to both Hermann and Flood in their tenure and those can be found be clicking the links on their names.

Rutgers has already hired Patrick Hobbs as AD. Hobbs is currently a Seton Hall dean of law.

Rutgers football Gameday!

A beautiful late November day dawns for the Senior Day festivities in Piscatawy today and Rutgers, if you can believe this, still has something to play for at 4-7. If the Scarlet Knights win today vs the god-awful Maryland Terrapins then Rutgers at 5-7 COULD go to a bowl game. Division 1 football is seemingly void of, going into the last week of the regular season, enough 6 win teams to fill all the bowl games. The experts are saying a couple three 5-7 teams might sneak into a bowl game which right there tells you we have far too many bowl games.

Rutgers will be playing for the last time in front of head coach Kyle Flood who is expected to be fired as soon as Sunday along with Rutgers AD Julie Hermann. In Johnny's opinion both need to go for Rutgers to get back on track and in Hermann's case not just football. So yes, RU should come out and it's our guess they will beat Maryland who is already playing for an interim coach, and move to 5-7. Will RU get a bowl invite in which case? Other than it would give underclassmen another couple weeks of practice under their belts going into 2016 in Johnny's opinion 5-7 teams don't go to bowl games.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 24
Maryland 10

Just a brutal weekend for NY area football

Jets, Giants and Rutgers all go down on different days in different way, all agonizing. The Jets lost to Rex Ryan and Buffalo last Thursday and rex sure made it known he was having a good time beating his old employer. The Giants lost at the very end to of all teams the Patriots who they had a recent good string against. Losing right at the end also has the Giants division lead down to half a game over of all teams Washington and the Eagles. Rutgers is now to the point where they are happy keeping games close. It' a program that is collapsing and badly needs an overhaul.

But, the good thing about football is there is always next weekend.

Rutgers football Gameday!

A quick Gameday thread today as Johnny has thangs to do.

Nebraska comes into Piscataway at 3:30 today on an emotional high. Who wouldn't be after the B1G officials allowed to knock off the #7 by running out of bounds then hiding behind those refereeisms about intended meanings of rules. Until last Saturday this was a lost season in Lincoln, something you don't normally ever see. In fact Nebraska entered November with 6 losses last week for the first time ever. RU is having a bad season without much hope but then again they're only a week behind Nebraska with a win and hope. Nebraska is a funny team. Quite a few of their plays wind up looking broken and thus defenders must hang on in the secondary that much longer. If the Rutgers secondary can play like they did against MSU they'll have a punchers chance as Johnny thinks the front 7 or 8 or the Scarlet Knights can minimize Husker running damage because well, they'll have to.

RU was embarrassed last week at Michigan. Michigan kinda sorta ran things up. How badly does RU want to get back some of that pride and stand up at home and get some of it back against a beatable team with a great pedigree. Will they have enough offense?

Special teams will help decide this one and RU are great at those.

Fearless Forecast
Nebraska 28
Rutgers 20

Rutgers football Gameday!

As the calendar moves deeper into November the feeling at the Rutgers football building can't be lobbying for which bowl game you want to make sure you qualify for and impress the committee. It's more a "can the coach save his job and who is playing for a starting job next year, who has quit and how will this impact recruiting" feeling.

First, can Kyle Flood save his job? Our guess is no and we'll pile on unnecessarily and say he shouldn't even if they win out. He's regressed slightly from the Greg Schiano years hasn't he? For every close loss to an MSU there are horrid blow out losses, either way, losses. His suspension didn't help matters and his actions to get that suspension would have been enough for Johnny to show him the door.

Who is playing for a starting job next year? Everyone not a senior. Easy. Nobody should think they have a lock on anything. Who has quit? We'll see and coaches will sure see when they break down game film.

Will this have an impact on recruiting? Oh yeah. After a promising first season in the B1G in which Rutgers represented well, kids now look at a program in disarray, an inconsistent AD, and lacking facilities. If everyone got on the same side and all rowed together and they raised money for a new stadium and got a first class coach it'd STILL be an 5-7 year turnaround to really compete with Michigan State, Ohio State and newly refurbished Michigan. Iowa is a great story but could well be one-year wonders.

Speaking of Michigan. Remember when Rutgers "upset" Michigan last year in Piscataway? Johnny is going to bet the Michigan players remember it well. Today RU plays in the Big Quiet House in Ann Arbor (Anne Arbor is a slut) and things don't look good barring a true upset. Michigan's defense should well handle anything the Scarlet Knights can throw at them and the members of the skunk family will be remembering their last two games, a last-second brain fart loss to Sparty and a last-second brain fart win over Minnesota and will (WARNING--Midwestern colloquialism ahead) try and put the hay in the barn early. The Rutgers defense is going to have to be darned near perfect to keep this one from getting out of hand early, something BYU and Northwestern did a poor job of. No penalties keeping Michigan drives alive. No missed fumble recoveries or dropped interceptions. Play as hard as you can for as long as you can and hope the offense can somehow get two touchdowns. Johnny thinks RU will get those two TD's but that's about all.

Fearless Forecast
Michigan 38
Rutgers 17

Rutgers football gameday!

To see how big an effort RU put in last week vs then #4 Michigan State look to Ann Arbor around 6:45pm. After MSU beat Oregon they got hype. Then Oregon got crushed by Utah who had already beaten Michigan's Wolverines. Suddenly the perception was MSU's win over Oregon wasn't so big after all. Then Sparty had some winning if not winning really ugly games in back to back weeks. A real bad win vs Purdue raised eyebrows around the country. So as far as perception goes, did the Scarlet Knights tussle to the bitter end in Piscataway vs a top flight team or an average team playing a road game. Again, if MSU wins today RU's effort looks bigger than life. If not, well, maybe too much is being read into the Knight's progress.

Perceptions aside, Rutgers plays a must win game today at John Cougar Mellencamp Stadium in Bloomington Indiana. Today is homecoming in Bloomington which means the time honored tradition at IU where every fan on their way in is given a locally grown turnip. Ah, good times in the midwest.

But Johnny digresses...

Must win game yes. Playing Indiana means points are going to be scored. IU scores a lot and gives up even more. First thought, RU can't let this game be played in the 40's. High 20's to mid-30's is plenty of points and gives Rutgers a better chance of winning. The defense slowed down MSU last week and did a very nice job of disrupting first down runs and were great in coverage (and the game was won by MSU receivers holding onto highly contested balls). RU is gonna have to have that same effort for all 60 minutes again today. We think they can. The Hoosiers are last in the B1G at getting their QB sacked which means those close calls vs Connor Cook last week might get home this week. The schemes were good and the players carried them out last week. Just keep doing it.

Offensively the Scarlet Knights did a great job vs Sparty. Leonte Caroo must have another game of his life and give the defense time to catch their breath. Big pickups on third down are needed. RU needs to kill clock so by committee at RB the magic number is 120. Run for 120 and beat IU in time of possession and good things are quite possible.

The coach is back and the team is playing hard right now, unless Bobby Knight shows up and throws a chair and trips an RU running back on his way to the end zone we see an upset.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 30
Indiana 27

Just one more round of the Michigan State fight song before heading out

Rutgers Football Gameday!

Now, you all know Johnny tries to be a fair arbiter of local sports teams he doesn't cheer for. He tries to explain the good and bad of the teams. Today's RU coverage is gonna be a little (ok a LOT) slanted, because today Johnny's Michigan State Spartans return to Piscataway ad Johnny WILL BE THERE.

Pretty cool thing, Rutgers joining the B1G so Johnny can see his Spartans somewhat locally again. Funny thing, Johnny moves to Jersey City and his beloved Red Wings are in the Eastern Conference of the NHL and make those regular trips to MSG, The Rock and Now the Barclay's Center. Johnny comes east and Rutgers joins the great midwestern bastion of football. Pretty cool deal.

OK, gameday. It's all going to boil down to RU's offensive line vs MSU's front seven. The Scarlet Knights do have a stable of talented running backs but that line is going to have to pave the way for those runners, something hard to do against Athalon's #2 defensive line in America. Lawrence Thomas and Malik McDowell are utter men against boys in a lot of cases. Bounce your run outside and there's All-American DE Shilique Calhoun. The RU line is young. The MSU line is awesome. How will the Knights line hold up? There's your key. Passing may be a better way for Rutgers to move the ball today but it's not a strength.

One advantage RU will have vs the #4 team in the land is special teams. Michigan State is normally has one of the better special team squads but that has not been the case this year. They have given up a kickoff return for a TD vs Western Michigan and a punt return vs Oregon. Rutgers gets a big edge here today.

We can look at this a million different ways and it all comes up the same on paper. Michigan State should win handily behind LJ Scott and the ground game and Connor Cook's arm. The MSU defense should stifle the RU running attack. Should, but that's why games are played.

Still with no Kyle Flood as head coach and MSU looking to lock in before visiting Khaki University next weekend this one seems to be telling Johnny something:

Fearless Forecast:
Michigan State 31
Rutgers 17

Rutgers football gameday!

Rutgers is really pissing Johnny off to no end this morning. As you all know Michigan State is his team. They are #2 in the country and trying to chase down one of those coveted four playoff spots.

Rutgers is playing moribund Kansas. Kansas is the team 1-AA teams schedule early in the season for a good looking win over a Division 1 school. This game gets FOUR Chets in fact:


Why is Johnny mad at Rutgers? Since Michigan State is also on the BTN Network but the Scarlet Knights, being a locally-sourced team are the game on Big Ten Network at noon. Now some Rutgers fans might counter that Sparty is only playing Central Michigan.

Kansas, the most awfullest team in the last 10 years not named Eastern Michigan versus Rutgers, Johnny just woke up but hasn't had time to check the police blotter to see who's playing.

Stupid local interest.

Now that we've dispensed with the unpleasantness of geography, today we're going to find out if Rutgers is a lost cause and are simply mailing it in a third of the way through the season. This is Kansas, even a team in crisis should beat them at home. This game can be broken down to "Is Rutgers still all in in 2015.?" If they are, they'll start B1G play at 2-2, if not, oh boy oh boy oh boy. Of course let's remember this is a full team effort of goofery. Both coaches AND players have contributed MIGHTILY to this mess. Today would be a good day to step up and represent your university in a fitting manner.

As bad as this game looks on paper there is an awful lot to play for if you're RU.

Fearless Forecast:
Rutgers 28
Kansas 21