Rutgers @ Connecticut preview
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2010 ) Connecticut 24, Rutgers 27
THE STORY: It's understandable that Rutgers was picked to occupy the cellar of the Big East after finishing last a season ago, but the Scarlet Knights have proven the voters wrong. A victory at Connecticut would make Rutgers the first school in league history to go from worst to first. It would also keep the Scarlet Knights in contention to become the seventh school to represent the Big East in the BCS since 2004 – but tiebreakers are likely to come into play as Rutgers is part of a five-team pack with two league losses. The Huskies blew their chance at securing back-to-back BCS berths by falling at home to Louisville last weekend.
TV: ESPN2. LINE: Rutgers -3.
ABOUT RUTGERS (8-3, 4-2 Big East): The Scarlet Knights have won three straight, including a 20-3 stuffing against Cincinnati on Saturday. Rutgers took advantage of the Bearcats' reliance on a backup quarterback (after starter Zach Collaros was injured the previous week) to limit their offense to a paltry 225 yards. It was sweet revenge for last season's 69-38 thrashing in which Cincy piled up 661 yards. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Jawan Jamison became the fifth running back in Rutgers history to post a 200-yard game, going for an even 200 on 34 carries and scoring both touchdowns.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (4-6, 2-3 Big East): The Huskies fell into a hole by allowing Louisville to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown and could not climb out. It didn't help that their receivers dropped eight passes from junior quarterback Johnny McEntee, who finished 18-for-43 for 253 yards in the 34-20 defeat. Redshirt freshman Lyle McCombs rushed for a season-low 33 yards, but it gave him 1,014 on the season to become just the second freshman in school history to surpass 1,000. Senior Kashif Moore had two of the drops, but also caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, and ran for a score against the Cardinals.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Rutgers has blocked six kicks and forced 30 turnovers. The Knights' 54 blocks since 2002 are tied for second with Texas, behind Fresno State's 66.
2. UConn earned last season's BCS berth but could not beat Rutgers, which rallied for a 27-24 home victory.
3. The Huskies need to win this game and at Cincinnati on Dec. 3 to become bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine years.
PREDICTION: Rutgers 24, Connecticut 20 – The Scarlet Knights should be well motivated in a rare opportunity to win their first share of the Big East title.