Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA 10)

[phillyphan1990]

RUTGERS FANS HOPING FOR FIRST BIG EAST TITLE AFTER HOT START

Fans in Piscataway are universally excited following Rutgers' 5-0 (1-0) start to the 2009 season that has rocketed them all the way up to #11 in the coaches poll.

Though Rutgers has played an admittedly weak schedule so far (two of the wins came against FCS opponents, and one against an inept FIU team), the wins against Cincinnati and Maryland have fans confident for the upcoming bulk of the conference schedule.

Domenic Natale has completed 53 of 80 passes this season for 793 yards and 12 touchdowns against just 2 interceptions. Joe Martinek, meanwhile, has rushed for 731 yards already on 139 attempts. Surprisingly, junior tight end Shamar Graves leads in receptions with 15 for 281 yards.

On defense, Ryan Dimperio leads with 34 tackles, George Johnson and Charlie Noonan each have 5 tackles for loss, Noonan has 5 sacks, and Brandon Bing leads with 3 interceptions.

[phillyphan1990]

Rutgers Year to Date
WEEK 1: RUTGERS 23, CINCINNATI 6

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
Cin	0	6	0	0	-	6
RU	7	3	7	6	-	23

Player of the Game: J. Lefeged -- 8 Tkls (TFL)

WEEK 2: RUTGERS 79, FCS EAST 7

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
FCS E	0	0	7	0	-	7
RU	21	31	24	3	-	79

Player of the Game: J. Martinek -- 22 Car, 207 Yds, 3 TD

WEEK 3: RUTGERS 44, FIU 7

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
FIU	0	0	0	7	-	7
RU	13	3	14	14	-	44

Player of the Game: S. Te -- 3-3 FG, Long of 54

WEEK 4: RUTGERS 24, Maryland 20

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
RU	0	14	0	10	-	24
Terps	14	3	3	0	-	20

Player of the Game: R. Dimperio -- 14 Tkls (2 TFL), 2 Sks

WEEK 6: RUTGERS 62, FCS Midwest 0

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT
FCS MW	0	0	0	0	-	0
RU	28	17	7	10	-	62

Player of the Game: S. Graves -- 5 Rec, 136 Yds, 2 TD

[phillyphan1990]

Current Top 25
1. Florida (5-0)
2. Oklahoma (5-0)
3. Texas (5-0)
4. Penn State (6-0)
5. TCU (5-0)
6. Oklahoma State (4-1)
7. Ohio State (5-1)
8. USC (4-1)
9. Georgia (5-1)
10. North Carolina (5-1)
11. Rutgers (5-0)
12. Alabama (5-1)
13. Oregon (5-1)
14. Florida State (5-1)
15. Pittsburgh (6-0)
16. Cal (4-1)
17. Utah (4-1)
18. LSU (4-2)
19. Kansas (4-1)
20. West Virginia (4-1)
21. Georgia Tech (4-2)
22. Ole Miss (3-2)
23. Miami (3-2)
24. Boise State (2-2)
25. Nebraska (3-2)
Others Receiving Votes - Boston College, Clemson, NC State, Virginia Tech, Iowa
Dropped Out - Virginia Tech (#17)

Big East Standings
#15 Pittsburgh -- 6-0 (2-0)
#11 Rutgers -- 5-0 (1-0)
#20 West Virginia -- 4-1 (1-0)
Syracuse -- 3-3 (1-1)
Cincinnati -- 4-1 (0-1)
USF -- 3-2 (0-1)
Connecticut -- 3-2 (0-1)
Louisville -- 2-3 (0-1)

[phillyphan1990]

Rutgers Set To Re-Open Conference Play with a Huge Matchup with #15 Pittsburgh

It will be a clash of Big East titans, when two undefeated teams in #11 Rutgers and #15 Pittsburgh face off on national television this week. Both coaches feel good about their team's chances to win.

Rutgers is 3rd in the league in points per game with 46.4, but just 78th in total offense with 2010. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is #12 in PPG with 33.5, and also 21st in total offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Rutgers gets the nod on stopping the rushing attack, having given up only a third ranked 331 rushing yards this season. Overall, though, Pitt wins out with the #6 ranked defense in the country.

Both teams are also very highly ranked on turnover margin, but Rutgers is actually first in the country with a +11 differential.

PREDICTION -- Rutgers wins a close one.

GAME TIME -- Friday 10/16 7:45 PM on ESPN.

[phillyphan1990]

Greg Schiano twitter update:

What the **** Dom? I let you take a shot at the endzone before we kick a FG and you throw a pick 6? Don't you bitches realize this is a big game? 21-0 my ***!

Fumbled kickoff returns? Who's ****ing coaching this team?? Oh yeah...

Why are they booing? Don't they realize I brought this program back from nothing?? Oh **** this, Penn State here I come.

[phillyphan1990]

Rutgers Gets Destroyed By Pitt, Drops to #16 in Coaches Poll

	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT
PITT	7	14	6	10	-	37
RU	0	0	0	7	-	7

Players of the Game
Pitt - D. DeCicco -- 17 Tkls
RU - J. Lefeged -- 15 Tkls

[phillyphan1990]

Top 25
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Florida (6-0)
3. Penn State (7-0)
4. TCU (6-0)
5. Oklahoma State (5-1)
6. Ohio State (6-1)
7. Pittsburgh (7-0)
8. USC (5-1)
9. Oklahoma (5-1)
10. Georgia (6-1)
11. North Carolina (5-1)
12. Alabama (6-1)
13. Oregon (5-1)
14. Florida State (5-1)
15. Utah (5-1)
16. Rutgers (5-1)
17. LSU (4-2)
18. West Virginia (5-1)
19. Georgia Tech (5-2)
20. Ole Miss (4-2)
21. Miami (4-2)
22. Boston College (5-2)
23. Kansas (4-2)
24. Cal (4-2)
25. Colorado (4-2)

Big East Standings
#7 Pittsburgh -- 7-0 (3-0)
#18 West Virginia -- 5-1 (1-0)
#16 Rutgers -- 5-1 (1-1)
Cincinnati -- 5-1 (1-1)
Connecticut -- 4-2 (1-1)
Syracuse -- 3-3 (1-1)
USF -- 3-3 (0-2)
Louisville -- 2-4 (0-2)