BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #9 SYRACUSE

November 7, 2008


As improbable as it sounded just a few short weeks ago, the Rutgers football team is working on playing themselves into bowl contention. With their remaining schedule, having to win at least three of four to get eligible is not an improbable proposition, in fact, I would almost bet on Rutgers to do it.

After a 1-5 start where they did not earn a win against a single 1-A football program, Rutgers has turned the ship around with an ugly 12-10 home win over UConn and a statement road win at Pittsburgh in which they scored 54 points on the Panthers. How remarkable was that outburst? In the previous six games against 1-A opponents, RU averaged a pathetic 13 points a game!

Syracuse also enters the game in a positive move. The Orange matched their conference win total of 2006 and 2007 last week when they upset Louisville in the Carrier Dome, 28-21, earning their first Big East win of 2008. It was also their first win against a 1-A club this year.

The latest college football odds indicate Rutgers as a 14 1/2 point favorite. Pittsburgh-explosion aside, that is a lot of points for a team that has tremendous trouble scoring. Syracuse has been playing a little better under Greg Robinson lately and they should be able to keep the game from getting out of control. Both teams will look to run the ball, so this should be a rather low scoring affair.

Prediction:

Rutgers 21
Syracuse 13