Howard @ Rutgers preview
SHI Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2009 ) Howard 7, Rutgers 45
There’s a new era underway in Piscataway. For the first time in 12 years, someone other than Greg Schiano will be roaming the sidelines in a Rutgers’ home opener. Former Schiano assistant Kyle Flood will get his chance to impress the home crowd – and it shouldn't be hard to do so - Saturday against FCS foe Howard. Flood was victorious in his debut, a 24-12 road win over Tulane, but he said there was plenty of room for improvement. The Scarlet Knights should find little resistance from the Bison, who have won eight games over the last three years. What’s more, Rutgers is 8-0 all-time against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, outscoring those opponents 277-7 in that span. That includes a 45-7 rout of Howard in 2009.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, SNY, ESPN3.com LINE: None
ABOUT HOWARD (1-0, 0-0 MEAC): Second-year coach Gary Harrell has the Bison headed in the right direction. Then again, there was nowhere to go but up. Howard won five games last season, nearly doubling its total from the previous two years. The Bison opened 2011 with a thrilling 30-29 win over Morehouse College, as true freshman Jamie Cunningham came off the bench to throw a game-winning, 13-yard touchdown pass in the final minute. Cunningham was summoned after starter Randy Liggins Jr. was benched for letting his emotions get the better of him following a key fumble. Cunningham could earn his first start if sophomore Gary McGhee – one of 14 players suspended for rules violations – isn’t reinstated.
ABOUT RUTGERS (1-0, 0-0 Big East): So far, so good for the Scarlett Knights’ new-look offensive line. A unit featuring three new starters didn’t allow a sack and helped Rutgers rush for 151 yards – a total the team eclipsed only four times last season. Sophomore Jawan Jamison ran for 112 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Still, the Scarlet Knights didn’t overwhelm Tulane, one of the worst FBS teams in 2011, so Flood is presented with the perfect scenario heading into his home debut. Sophomore QB Gary Nova, for one, needs a better showing after completing just 11-of-20 passes for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Even the Rutgers’ defense, which ranked 14th in the FBS last season (314.2 ypg), was off kilter. The Scarlett Knights allowed the Green Wave to convert 8 of 16 third downs.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Scarlett Knights’ offensive line has made great strides since allowing an NCAA-record 61 sacks in 2010.
2. Rutgers DT Scott Vallone has made 39 straight starts – the longest active streak in the Big East.
3. The Scarlet Knights have won five of their last seven home openers.
PREDICTION: Rutgers 47, Howard 3