Illinois vs Rutgers College Football Match Up Preview
The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University are beginning something unusual this year. They are starting a new season following a winning season and an appearance in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. The tired slogan, wait till next year has disappeared because of the life sixth year head coach Greg Schiano has breathed into the Scarlet Knights program. Winning fills seats and the Scarlet Knights expect a big crowd for their home opener as Rutgers hosts Illinois Saturday at noon in a battle of undefeated teams at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. The game will also be televised nationally by ESPN2. Pam Ward will handle the play-by-play while Mike Gottfried will provide color analysis and Jimmy Dykes is the sideline reporter.
Rutgers has not started 2-0 since the 2000 season and just four times in the previous 25 seasons. The Scarlet Knights earned an impressive 21-16 victory at North Carolina last weekend. Rutgers used a potent rushing attack, fueled by sophomore tailback Ray Rice’s 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns to seal the victory. Senior cornerback Manny Collins added two critical interceptions and DE William Beckford recovered a fourth quarter goal line fumble to help lead Rutgers to the win over the Tar Heels.
Despite the loss of some key members of last season’s Insight Bowl team, the Scarlet Knights return several talented players on both sides of the ball in 2006 including Heisman Trophy candidate and All-America fullback Brian Leonard. Seven of 11 starters return on offense and defense along with the starting kicker and punter.
Rutgers hopes to enjoy the same success it had a year ago in front of the home crowd at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights finished 4-2 at home in 2005, tying for the most wins (4-1 in 1994) in the new Rutgers Stadium in school history.
Ron Zook, second year coach of Illinois has serious concerns about the Scarlet Knights. “They are a very athletic football team.” Zook said. “They went on the road and beat North Carolina. They have so many weapons. The quarterback does a nice job of managing the game which I’m sure is what they want him to do. They have a big, big offensive line. Defensively they run to the ball. They have some similarities to us on defense, just a little older but they run the ball extremely well. They are a football team that got better as the year went along last year. I watched them in the bowl game last year and just kept thinking this team is really improved from our first game.”
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano probably has concerns of his own about the Illini, a team who came from behind in the two schools meeting in 2005 to take a 33-30 win in Overtime. Also the Illini were impressive in their opener in Champaign knocking off Division 1AA and Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois 42-17. In that game Illini Quarterback Tim Brasic threw for 149 yards and tailback Pierre Thomas rushed for 126 yards on 15 carries as Illinois snapped a nine-game losing streak with the win.
Currently Bodog online sportsbook shows s Rutgers -10.5. This writer thinks the Scarlet Knights will cover the 10.5 chalk. The Scarlet Knights have a very explosive offense that should score early and often against a very suspect Illinois defense. The Illini are not where they want to be under Ron Zook and might be at the minimum two years away from getting its sinking program turned around.
Illinois vs Rutgers, 11:00 AM EDT Saturday
Line Rutgers –10.5 Total OFF
TV (ESPN2)
My prediction: Rutgers –10.5
