Pinstripe Bowl analysis from a Rutgers expert

[bos]

These rutgers really think they're something special. Two average QBs, average O-line, a bad rushing offense. They played 1 ranked team and lost, also lost to UConn. It should be a good game, but there is no reason any of them should feel confident about winning. How good is their defense, really? They didn't exactly play a killer schedule or any offensive juggernauts.

Cant fault them for being confident and proud of their team. Look at our crazy fanbase, we question every decision the staff makes and worry about losing this game.

[Bluffers]

Prepare for the game with humblness and focus.
Play the game with energy and heart.
Win the game with honor.
Celebrate and remember the game with pride.

[khaal53]

He is correct that a part of the reason the perception of the Big East is so bad is because they don't have an upper echelon team. However, no team in the Big East finished worse than 5-7 because they only play 7 conference games AND because of that first point. Largely there were no automatic losses in the league for any team but they each had 5 non-con games allowing for at least 4 patsies in the non-conference schedule.

The Non-Cupcake Big East Non-Conference Opponents (BCS):

Tennessee (5-7), NC State (7-5), Vanderbilt (6-6), Iowa State (6-6), UNC (7-5), Iowa (7-5), Notre Dame (8-4), Wake Forest (6-6), Maryland (2-10).

[zwclones51]

16? no way in hell we make 3 field goals in a game.

[Cyhart]

He is correct that a part of the reason the perception of the Big East is so bad is because they don't have an upper echelon team. However, no team in the Big East finished worse than 5-7 because they only play 7 conference games AND because of that first point. Largely there were no automatic losses in the league for any team but they each had 5 non-con games allowing for at least 4 patsies in the non-conference schedule.

The Non-Cupcake Big East Non-Conference Opponents (BCS):

Tennessee (5-7), NC State (7-5), Vanderbilt (6-6), Iowa State (6-6), UNC (7-5), Iowa (7-5), Notre Dame (8-4), Wake Forest (6-6), Maryland (2-10).

Ah! Always interesting when you dig a little deeper. Thanks, as always, for the great info.

[demoncore1031]

8 of our 12 games were vs ranked teams. rutgers would not be in a bowl game if they played our schedule.

[Clonefan32]

I stopped reading after he said the Big East is not a poor football conference.

[clonomaniac]

I read the entire preview from this Rutgers fan. I think he did an excellent job analyzing except where he rambles on and on about how when Texas or Oklahomas of the world is not as good but they are still ranked - then he just lost me... Oh and when he predicted a score of 23-16, I almost threw up in my mouth.

Chris Williams did an excellent job with the questions.

I think if Iowa State's last win was not against a SOLID Oklahoma State team, we would be an underdog. I think he has a point that we might be overrated right now. However, he foolishly made the mistake of saying we beat 1 ranked team. If I am not mistaken we beat two ranked teams.

I dont think he ever mentions how we beat UCON on the road with their two QB system who stomped on Rutgers.

This dude is biased. He tried to give a lot of credit to Iowa State but he didn't give Iowa State credit to the key areas.

Iowa State is a sleeping giant at this time. Paul Rhoads just got a ten year extension. You could tell right after we failed to convert 2 points against Nebraska last year that he really wanted to go bowling. I think the entire Cyclone nation agreed with his decision to go with 2 pt conversion because we just know that he is a proven winner. So what, we failed last year. To say, Rutgers do better in bowl games is relative. Dude is underestimating Paul Rhoads' ability to prepare a bowl team.

I honestly think we win by two scores - be in 9 or 14.

Everyone thought Rutgers were the doormat of Big East when they began their season. I think they underestimated Rutgers but they are really not as flashy to KEEP A BIG 12 SQUAD SCORING ONLY 16 ACCORDING TO HIS PREDICTION.

Guh!!!

[ribsnwhiskey]

I read the entire preview from this Rutgers fan. I think he did an excellent job analyzing except where he rambles on and on about how when Texas or Oklahomas of the world is not as good but they are still ranked - then he just lost me... Oh and when he predicted a score of 23-16, I almost threw up in my mouth.

Chris Williams did an excellent job with the questions.

I think if Iowa State's last win was not against a SOLID Oklahoma State team, we would be an underdog. I think he has a point that we might be overrated right now. However, he foolishly made the mistake of saying we beat 1 ranked team. If I am not mistaken we beat two ranked teams.

I dont think he ever mentions how we beat UCON on the road with their two QB system who stomped on Rutgers.

This dude is biased. He tried to give a lot of credit to Iowa State but he didn't give Iowa State credit to the key areas.

Iowa State is a sleeping giant at this time. Paul Rhoads just got a ten year extension. You could tell right after we failed to convert 2 points against Nebraska last year that he really wanted to go bowling. I think the entire Cyclone nation agreed with his decision to go with 2 pt conversion because we just know that he is a proven winner. So what, we failed last year. To say, Rutgers do better in bowl games is relative. Dude is underestimating Paul Rhoads' ability to prepare a bowl team.

I honestly think we win by two scores - be in 9 or 14.

Everyone thought Rutgers were the doormat of Big East when they began their season. I think they underestimated Rutgers but they are really not as flashy to KEEP A BIG 12 SQUAD SCORING ONLY 16 ACCORDING TO HIS PREDICTION.

Guh!!!

How can we be overrated when we aren't rated?

[blitz8ru]

WHEN you want a homer to answer questions of an upcoming opponent he is going to do it in a biased fashion... Pumping up his team while denigrating the opponent... It is human nature... I read his responses and thought it was very fair of how Iowa state is viewed here and was surprised to see resentment to his responses posted here... We view our team through scarlet colored glasses as I am sure Iowa State fans do yours...

Fan is short for fanatic so it should be EXPECTED that these types of views would be held about the opponent...

Many of the posts on this message board read the same way (sometimes worse) but you think nothing of it since you are Iowa state homers (at least I assume you other otherwise why spend your time here?).

I can assure you that Rutgers posters ALSO cry about the lack of respect we are afforded by Iowa State fans even due to the smallest of perceived slights... I am sure RUfanJerry (a FAN blogger NOT an expert ) did not intend to dis your team... BUT as fans we tend to blow things out of proportion (he did say some nice things about Iowa St but comments on that are nonexistent)...

If you want a fair and balanced analysis (NO DON'T GO TO FOX NEWS) look at an analysis by someone with no dog in this fight...

Bloggers by the nature of what they are have agendas they satisfy. So ANY person with common sense (which sadly is uncommon) would take a blogger's rantings and ravings with a grain of salt...

BTW clonomaniac: uconn is a vastly different team from season start to season end (as are most teams). You think teams (except for yours) stay the same the entire season without improvement? There is a REASON why the transitive property DOES NOT work in college football where most teams can win or lose any given week...

ANYWAY we shall see whom is the better team come Friday. I sincerely hope all those coming have a safe and fulfilling trip to the big apple. I also hope no serious injuries occur on either side during the game and that the refs don't have a hand in picking the game winner... May the best team win...

As a Rutgers fan, I hope it is RU!!!

[clonomaniac]

How can we be overrated when we aren't rated?

I mean Rutgers are an underdog to us even with their record better than ours. I didn't mean in terms of national ranking. I meant in terms of how people look at us even after the two losses to end the season.

On the same note, I bet my house Rutgers get slaughtered by both Oklahoma and Kansas State who we kept the game reall close and on the road.

[clonomaniac]

If you want a far and balanced analysis (NO DON'T GO TO FOX NEWS) look at an analysis by someone with no dog in this fight...

Miller time

[cyhiphopp]

He is correct that a part of the reason the perception of the Big East is so bad is because they don't have an upper echelon team. However, no team in the Big East finished worse than 5-7 because they only play 7 conference games AND because of that first point. Largely there were no automatic losses in the league for any team but they each had 5 non-con games allowing for at least 4 patsies in the non-conference schedule.

The Non-Cupcake Big East Non-Conference Opponents (BCS):

Tennessee (5-7), NC State (7-5), Vanderbilt (6-6), Iowa State (6-6), UNC (7-5), Iowa (7-5), Notre Dame (8-4), Wake Forest (6-6), Maryland (2-10).

Do you happen to know the Big East's record versus those BCS non-conference opponents?

[Cyhart]

I find that notion that Rutgers is going to score 23 points on our defense completely laughable.

[khaal53]

Do you happen to know the Big East's record versus those BCS non-conference opponents?

Cincinnati...
@ Tennessee - L 45-23
NC State - W 44-14

UConn...
@ Vanderbilt - L 24-21
Iowa State - L 24-20

Louisville...
@ Kentucky - W 24-17
@ UNC - L 14-7

Pitt...
@ Iowa - L 31-27
Notre Dame - L 15-12

Rutgers...
@ UNC - L 24-22

South Florida...
@ Notre Dame - W 23-20

Syracuse...
Wake Forest- W 36-29 OT
@ USC - L 38-17 (Missed this one previously)

West Virginia...
@ Maryland - W 37-31
LSU - L 47-21 (Missed this one previously as well)

The Big East was a grand total of 5-9 against BCS teams in the non-con.