Post by dehayes35 on Oct 26, 2007 9:52:20 GMT -5
www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/spnet.ssf?/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=advance&page=cfoot/scores/live/pv17298.htm
Saturday, October 27th, 12:00 p.m. (et)
From The Sports Network
By Ralph Lauro, Associate College Football Editor
GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights will try to snap a 12-game losing streak to the sixth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers this Saturday, as the two teams meet in a key Big East showdown in Piscataway. The Knights enter the game with a good deal of momentum on their side, as they knocked off then second-ranked and undefeated South Florida 30-27 on October 18th. It was the biggest upset in program history for Rutgers, which had been just 1-25 all- time versus the AP Top 10. The team has now won its last two outings in improving to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. As for WVU, it stepped out of conference play this past weekend and easily defeated Mississippi State 38-13. It was the second win in a row for the Mountaineers, who improved to 6-1 in the process. The team now heads back into Big East play, where it has gone an even 1-1 thus far. WVU has dominated Rutgers over the years, holding a commanding 28-4-2 advantage in the all-time series. As a matter of fact, the Mountaineers have won 12 consecutive meetings with the Knights dating back to 1994. Last season, Rutgers had a chance to earn a share of the Big East title, but WVU put an end to those hopes by outlasting the Knights, 41-39, in triple- overtime in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers are one of the most explosive teams in the Big East as well as the nation, and they are currently turning in a healthy 42.1 ppg mainly because of their dynamic ground attack that is averaging a whopping 304.1 rushing ypg. Leading the way is the duo of tailback Steve Slaton and Patrick White, whom have combined for 18 rushing touchdowns. Slaton, at the moment, ranks third in the Big East in rushing with 752 yards, while White is fifth with 500 yards on a 6.7 yard per carry average. White has also been effective with his arm this season, completing an efficient 71.1 percent of his throws with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. Last weekend, WVU rushed for 262 yards and two scores, as it defeated Mississippi State 38-13. Slaton led the charge with 127 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while White added 89 yards and a score on only five totes. White also completed 8-of-12 tosses for 62 yards and two more scores. Darius Reynaud caught two touchdowns passes in the game and he has clearly been White's favorite target this season. Reynaud leads the team with 37 catches, 450 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and he is the only player on the roster who has hauled in more than one touchdown pass this season.
Defensively, WVU has been surprisingly good this season, as it ranks first in the Big East against the run (89.4 ypg) and the pass (165.3 ypg). The unit is giving up a mere 16.6 ppg and it has also recorded 18 turnovers and 22 sacks. Last weekend, the Mountaineers put forth another strong effort on defense, as they held Mississippi State to just 214 total yards, including only 45 on the ground. The defense forced and recovered three fumbles in the contest and also finished with three sacks. Reed Williams logged seven tackles and a forced fumble in the win, while Johnny Dingle notched his team-best sixth sack of the year. Dingle also leads the team with 10.5 TFLs.
The Knights have the ability to beat opposing teams on the ground or through the air, as they are averaging a solid 180.4 rushing ypg and an even better 296.4 passing ypg. Much like its opponent in this game, Rutgers has one of the premier backs in the Big East in Ray Rice, who leads the conference with 999 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. In the team's biggest game of the season, Rice amassed 181 yards on 39 carries, as the Knights upset South Florida, 30-27. Rice tied a school record with his 19th career 100-yard rushing performance and he also snapped South Florida's string of 15 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Quarterback Mike Teel also played a big part in the win over South Florida, as he completed 11-of-29 pass attempts for 179 yards and two scores. Teel has been overshadowed by Rice, but he has had a rather solid campaign, passing for 285.1 ypg, with 14 touchdowns against six interceptions. His main target is Tiquan Underwood, who leads the club with 39 receptions, 789 receiving yards and six scores. Underwood also got into the mix against South Florida, as he grabbed five balls for 112 yards and a pair of scores.
Like their opponent, the Knights have done a solid job on defense, where they are holding their foes to just 18.6 ppg and only 306.1 total ypg. The unit has really fared well against the pass, allowing just 170.4 ypg and only seven touchdowns through the air. The unit, though, could stand to force a few more mistakes from its opponents, as Rutgers has generated only 10 turnovers thus far. Against South Florida, the Knights surrendered 362 total yards, including just 115 via the run. The unit forced only one turnover, but it was able to make up for that by recording seven sacks. Jamaal Westerman registered two of those sacks, giving him a team-best six for the season. As a team, the Knights have earned a solid 23 sacks for the year.
This is obviously a huge game for both teams, as the winner will have the inside track to the Big East title. Both clubs are well coached and balanced and each will surely lean on its big time tailback. With the support of their home crowd, expect the Knights to pull out another narrow win behind the power running of Ray Rice.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rutgers 34, West Virginia 31
Saturday, October 27th, 12:00 p.m. (et)
From The Sports Network
By Ralph Lauro, Associate College Football Editor
GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights will try to snap a 12-game losing streak to the sixth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers this Saturday, as the two teams meet in a key Big East showdown in Piscataway. The Knights enter the game with a good deal of momentum on their side, as they knocked off then second-ranked and undefeated South Florida 30-27 on October 18th. It was the biggest upset in program history for Rutgers, which had been just 1-25 all- time versus the AP Top 10. The team has now won its last two outings in improving to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. As for WVU, it stepped out of conference play this past weekend and easily defeated Mississippi State 38-13. It was the second win in a row for the Mountaineers, who improved to 6-1 in the process. The team now heads back into Big East play, where it has gone an even 1-1 thus far. WVU has dominated Rutgers over the years, holding a commanding 28-4-2 advantage in the all-time series. As a matter of fact, the Mountaineers have won 12 consecutive meetings with the Knights dating back to 1994. Last season, Rutgers had a chance to earn a share of the Big East title, but WVU put an end to those hopes by outlasting the Knights, 41-39, in triple- overtime in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers are one of the most explosive teams in the Big East as well as the nation, and they are currently turning in a healthy 42.1 ppg mainly because of their dynamic ground attack that is averaging a whopping 304.1 rushing ypg. Leading the way is the duo of tailback Steve Slaton and Patrick White, whom have combined for 18 rushing touchdowns. Slaton, at the moment, ranks third in the Big East in rushing with 752 yards, while White is fifth with 500 yards on a 6.7 yard per carry average. White has also been effective with his arm this season, completing an efficient 71.1 percent of his throws with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. Last weekend, WVU rushed for 262 yards and two scores, as it defeated Mississippi State 38-13. Slaton led the charge with 127 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while White added 89 yards and a score on only five totes. White also completed 8-of-12 tosses for 62 yards and two more scores. Darius Reynaud caught two touchdowns passes in the game and he has clearly been White's favorite target this season. Reynaud leads the team with 37 catches, 450 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and he is the only player on the roster who has hauled in more than one touchdown pass this season.
Defensively, WVU has been surprisingly good this season, as it ranks first in the Big East against the run (89.4 ypg) and the pass (165.3 ypg). The unit is giving up a mere 16.6 ppg and it has also recorded 18 turnovers and 22 sacks. Last weekend, the Mountaineers put forth another strong effort on defense, as they held Mississippi State to just 214 total yards, including only 45 on the ground. The defense forced and recovered three fumbles in the contest and also finished with three sacks. Reed Williams logged seven tackles and a forced fumble in the win, while Johnny Dingle notched his team-best sixth sack of the year. Dingle also leads the team with 10.5 TFLs.
The Knights have the ability to beat opposing teams on the ground or through the air, as they are averaging a solid 180.4 rushing ypg and an even better 296.4 passing ypg. Much like its opponent in this game, Rutgers has one of the premier backs in the Big East in Ray Rice, who leads the conference with 999 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. In the team's biggest game of the season, Rice amassed 181 yards on 39 carries, as the Knights upset South Florida, 30-27. Rice tied a school record with his 19th career 100-yard rushing performance and he also snapped South Florida's string of 15 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Quarterback Mike Teel also played a big part in the win over South Florida, as he completed 11-of-29 pass attempts for 179 yards and two scores. Teel has been overshadowed by Rice, but he has had a rather solid campaign, passing for 285.1 ypg, with 14 touchdowns against six interceptions. His main target is Tiquan Underwood, who leads the club with 39 receptions, 789 receiving yards and six scores. Underwood also got into the mix against South Florida, as he grabbed five balls for 112 yards and a pair of scores.
Like their opponent, the Knights have done a solid job on defense, where they are holding their foes to just 18.6 ppg and only 306.1 total ypg. The unit has really fared well against the pass, allowing just 170.4 ypg and only seven touchdowns through the air. The unit, though, could stand to force a few more mistakes from its opponents, as Rutgers has generated only 10 turnovers thus far. Against South Florida, the Knights surrendered 362 total yards, including just 115 via the run. The unit forced only one turnover, but it was able to make up for that by recording seven sacks. Jamaal Westerman registered two of those sacks, giving him a team-best six for the season. As a team, the Knights have earned a solid 23 sacks for the year.
This is obviously a huge game for both teams, as the winner will have the inside track to the Big East title. Both clubs are well coached and balanced and each will surely lean on its big time tailback. With the support of their home crowd, expect the Knights to pull out another narrow win behind the power running of Ray Rice.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rutgers 34, West Virginia 31