Rutgers is staring down a wild 42.5-point favorite spread against Howard this Friday, September 25, at SHI Stadium, and honestly, you gotta wonder if it’s finally time for them to snag that first W. After a tough 42-35 loss last week to #12 USC at home, the Scarlet Knights are still searching for their initial victory of the season. FanDuel is predicting an absolute cakewalk, but after the start they’ve had, you can bet nothing feels easy for Rutgers right now.
The Fight Against USC: A Glimmer of Hope?
Last week’s game against USC? Yeah, it was a loss, 42-35. But talk about a turnaround! The Knights looked better, way better, than they had in games past. The defense, which had been, let’s just say, *struggling*, actually managed to get a few stops against one of the most high-powered offenses in the Big Ten. That’s a massive step forward! The offense wasn’t slacking either; they moved the ball down the field and even exposed USC’s relatively weak defense for their high ranking. Seriously, this wasn’t the same team we saw in those first two soul-crushing games against Boston College and UMass. Those early losses? Super frustrating, especially knowing what Rutgers showed last week. Aside from some costly interceptions, the run blocking was much improved, giving guys like Antwan Raymond room to hit some holes and make big gains. The pass block was solid too, surrendering only one sack. Coach Greg Schiano wasn’t holding back either, admitting in a press conference that he thinks the team would be looking at a different record to start the season had they played the same way against USC. That’s huge.
Howard’s Struggles Pave the Way
So, what about Howard? Yeah, 1-2 on the season, with losses that tell a story of their own. They started with a decent 31-24 win over Alabama A&M, but since then? Two straight L’s, including a 28-21 loss to Richmond and a crushing 55-0 blowout against Indiana. Talk about a tough go. Howard is an FCS school, which definitely explains part of that monster spread, but their stats don’t lie. They’re averaging around 160 passing yards per game, only 80 rushing yards per game, and just over 17 points per game. On defense, they’re giving up an average of 34.33 points per game. Basically, they’re not exactly lighting up the scoreboard and they’re letting opponents have their way.
This Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m. at SHI Stadium, it’s showtime. The biggest thing to watch for is if Rutgers can build on those improvements we saw against USC. We need to see that continued strong play, especially mistake-free quarterback play. If Rutgers can keep the turnovers to a minimum, a comfortable win is definitely in the cards. You can catch the game live on the Big Ten Network. And before kickoff, make sure to check out the 16th annual Walk to Believe, where Rutgers legend Eric Legrand will lead the pregame parade. Talk about setting the atmosphere!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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