Rutgers and Maryland are set to join the Big Ten Conference word around the campfire has it

The Rutgers Board of Governors is set to meet this morning before the usual trustees meeting and everyone believes that the closed door part of the meeting agenda is the approval (or not) of the Scarlet Knights to pick up new playdates aka Michigan State, Penn State, Minnesota, Iowa and the rest. Also expected to make the decision to join the Big Ten is the University of Maryland as there are currently no turtle-styled mascots in the Big Ten yet.

The choice is clear for Rutgers -- the Big East is disintegrating yearly and the Big Ten is a top flight and fairly stable conference. Teams leave FOR the Big Ten, not from it. While in Maryland's case the ACC is more stable it still is experiencing turnover. This also gives the Big Ten something it has long wanted, an in to the east coast and NYC media markets.

Each new school brings something to the table athletically. Maryland is a traditional power in basketball while Rutgers would more than be holding their own in the Big Ten football this year. The part Rutgers fans wouldn't like much is the basketball aspect. The Scarlet Knight five have already lost to MAAC team St. Peters and the Big Ten has three teams in the top ten nationally. One you'd expect to be there, Michigan State simply shows up at the Final Four so often Tom Izzo gets frequent coaching miles. So Big Ten hoops will force Rutgers to step up their recruiting game which in the end is a good thing.

But how will the Big Ten rejigger their stupid "Leaders and Legends divisions"? See in the Big Ten you can't have and east and west or north and south conference, no they hired consultants who somehow landed on Leaders and Legends. It's silly yes, while former Nebraska head football coach Tom Osborne is a leader and a legend he never coached much in the Big Ten but the Big Ten Network still hypes him like he did. So where is Johnny's guess they land in the brave new 14 team Big TEN?

LEGENDS: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern
LEADERS: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin

We'd guess Maryland to the Legends and Rutgers to the Leaders. We say Rutgers to the Leaders as no doubt the Big Ten will want some kind of Penn State-Rutgers rivalry, ie New Jersey vs. Pennsylvania. This of course is nothing but wild speculation at the current time. Rivalry games and crossover games will of course factor into scheduling/slotting.

Confused? Well take heart and enjoy the ride. Connecticut and Syracuse fans pay attention, you're next.

Rutgers football game day!

Well it comes down to this, today is Piscataway, around 3:30 we're going to see just where the Scarlet Knight's season is headed. (4-4, 1-2 Big East) will clash with suddenly resurgent Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) in a game Rutgers need desperately to win. Yes, it's been a tough season with the injury to and emotional toll of Eric LaGrand's paralysis. Today Rutgers needs to pass block like they haven't all season and control the pressure scheme of the Orange defense. That may be easier said than done with a freshman running the Rutgers offense in Chas Dodd. Chas, everything you have learned up until now must be on display today or you, the Scarlet Knights fan, can start doing the math. A loss today and Rutgers will have to pretty much win out to get to ANY bowl game this December. A daunting task for a freshman. It's our guess, unless Greg Schiano has somehow lost this team they'll respond with a huge effort today. Huge efforts don't always result in a win but here's hoping today.

Our guess? Tom Savage rallies the team in the 4th quarter, hits Mark Harrison with a late TD and it's the Rutgers defense that puts the hurt on Syracuse.

Prediction:
Rutgers 23
Syracuse 17

Johnny's first Fearless Pigskin Forecast pertaining to the Big East Conference

We all know from reading this blog Johnny's a Big Ten/MAC guy, it just goes with where you grow up. But, he does love all college football and is ordering his college football package for the teevee tomorrow. He'll do a proper Rutgers breakdown later this week but here now is the Jersey City Desk Big East prediction for the 2009 season.

1. Cincinnati
2. West Virginia
3. Pittsburgh
4. Rutgers
5. South Florida
6. Connecticut
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse


Rutgers could go as high as third but playing patsies on their schedule doesn't really prep you for bigger conference games.

Simply AMAZING game over at MSG last night, one they'll talk about forever

For a facility that calls itself the most famous arena in the world, the Big East conference tournament game between Syracuse and Connecticut will go down in legend. The Orange outlasted the UConn Huskies 127-117 in SIX, yes, SIX overtimes. The game ended at 1:22 am today. Words cannot do this game justice, though some will try. We'll give you a chance to catch up on it here, and here, here and here.

If you stayed up til the wee hours to watch it, what are your thoughts? Share them in comments....if you're up yet. If you were over at MSG, please tell us what it was like.