Michigan Football: What you need to know about Rutgers
After losing to Penn State, Michigan football returns home to take on 3-4 Rutgers at the Big House. Here’s what you need to know about the Scarlet Knights.
While many Michigan football fans are in a panic after the loss to Penn State, there is good news for the Wolverines. That news is, of course, that Rutgers is next up on the schedule.
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Yes, that is the same Rutgers program that Michigan football embarrassed last season. Wait … didn’t UM just lose to a team it dominated last season. Why yes it did. But thankfully, Rutgers isn’t Penn State. Even though to be fair, the Scarlet Knights have won two games in a row. Two Big Ten games even.
It may seem that I am poking fun at Rutgers, but I am not. Michigan football better take the Scarlet Knights seriously, or UM will have to wait another week to clinch bowl eligibility.
Somehow, Rutgers beat Purdue last week 14-12, even though the Boliermakers had 474 yards compared to 217 for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers had a 2-0 edge in turnover margin and that proved to be the difference.
If you think the Wolverines offense is bad, you should see the Scarlet Knights. They average 22.1 points per game, compared to 25.1 for Michigan. Rutgers may be bad at scoring points, but it’s even worse at moving the ball, averaging 301 yards per game (last in Big Ten). It probably won’t help that Michigan is second in total defense (264 YPG).
Michigan Wolverines Football
The running game is at least decent for Rutgers, averaging 167 yards per game (8th in Big Ten) and has three decent runners in Gus Edwards, Robert Martin and Raheem Blackshear. The passing game now led by quarterback Giovanni Rescigno, who was 9-of-18 against Purdue. For the season he is 16-of-30 for 199 yards and one touchdown to go with one interception.
The defense isn’t horrid, but it does allow 384 yards per game, which is also 10th in the conference. However, there are some positives such as the eight interceptions. But it only has seven sacks, so the Michigan offensive line should have a field day.
K.J. Gray is one name to look out for. He has two picks and four passes defensed. Damon Hays has six passes defensed and an interception, while the top pass rusher is Darnell Davis with two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
As far as previous opponents, Rutgers has played elite teams. It lost 30-14 to Washington, but was also shutout by Ohio State 56-0. The Scarlet Knights beat Illinois, Morgan State and Purdue, but also lost to Nebraska and Eastern Michigan.
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Kickoff between the Wolverines and Scarlet Knights is set for Noon EST Saturday in the Big House.