REASON FOR PICK: Brian Kelly can coach. He spent 13 years at Div II Grand Valley St going 118-35-2 with two national titles (finished 2nd once). He then led Central Michigan to winning seasons in two of his three seasons at Mount Pleasant, including the MAC title in 2006. In his two years at Cincinnati, he's 21-6, the school's highest win total ever over a two year stretch. The Bearcats won a school-record 11 games in 2008, captured their first outright Big East Conference title with a 6-1 mark and made the school's first-ever appearance in a BCS bowl game (lost 20-7 to Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl). As for Rutgers, it has become a consistent winner under head coach Greg Schiano. Schiano has taken the Scarlet Knights to four straight bowl games, after the school had been to just one bowl in its history (a 34-18 loss to Arizona St in the 1978 Garden State Bowl). How far Rutgers has come was illustrated last year when the team lost FIVE of its first six games but ended the season with SEVEN straight wins, including a 29-23 win over NC State in the Papajohns.com Bowl. This is a showcase game for the Big East, last year's champ (Cincy), facing this year's preseason favorite. The Big East is still 'steaming' from the fact that it was the only BCS conference to NOT have a single school ranked in the preseason top-25 poll (AP or Coaches'). QB Tony Pike passed for 2,407 yards and 19 TDs a year ago, even though he entered the season as a backup. He's "the man" in 2009 and has a talented group of wideouts, highlighted by Mardy Gilyard (81 catches for 11 TDs). RBs John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey combined for 1,271 rushing yards last season but they will be pushed for playing time by explosive sophomore Isaiah Pead. Cincy's offense will be fine but the defense returns just ONE starter. Rutgers has a huge challenge on offense this year, having to replace QB Mike Teel and WR Kenny Britt. Fifth-year senior Domenic Natale will replace Teel but he has only eight career pass attempts to his credit. More bad news is that the WR corps returns only one player with any experience (Tim Brown / 27 catches). The good news is that a trio of RBs return in Kordell Young, Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks and they accounted for just under 1,500 yards with 15 TDs. Not only that but all FIVE starters return on the OL! Rutgers ranked 19th in scoring defense last season, allowing just 18.9 PPG and despite the loss of five starters, many believe this year's 'D" will be just as good. In this early-season matchup, I'm taking the home team and laying the points.
Larry Ness 9/7
Reply With Quote