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2009 Rutgers NCAA Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

rutgers 7209 The Rutgers Scarlet Knights bring tons of momentum into the 2009 season, riding a seven game winning streak, which includes a 29-23 Papajohns.com Bowl win over N.C. State. Greg Schiano’s team has now won three straight bowl games and they look to make it four straight in the 2009 season. Rutgers is listed at +9000 to win the 2009 BCS Championship.

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Offense – Whether the Scarlet Knights can claim their first ever Big East title largely depends on how good of a job either Domenic Natale or Jabu Lovelace can do in replacing Mike Teel, perhaps the best passer to ever put on a Rutgers uniform. Freshman Tom Savage is right behind them. He is the most highly touted QB ever to sign with the program and will be given the ball at some point, but one of the aforementioned fifth year seniors will likely be asked to guide Rutgers through the 2009 season. The offense also took a big blow when it lost wide receiver Kenny Britt to the NFL. Tim Brown was the beneficiary of defenses paying too much attention to Britt a season ago, gaining 565 yards on just 27 catches for five touchdowns. Now, he’s the No. 1 and he’ll need some help from the other guys to keep the defense honest. While two of the programs best ever skill players have been lost, the team returns its entire offensive line intact. That could afford Greg Schiano the luxury of bringing back his run oriented attack that was so effective when Ray Rice was dicing up defenses. The top four running backs all come back, including top rusher Kordell Young, who rushed for 554 yards and five scores. Plus, the backfield should get an added boost from big time tailback recruit De’Antwan Williams.

Defense – A defense which ranked 19th in the nation in points allowed (19.8) returns six starters, and the coaching staff is optimistic that it will be solid once again with middle linebacker Ryan D’Imperio leading the unit. D’Imperio is the team’s top returning tackler and sack man, coming up with 93 total stops and 5.5 sacks last season. The coaching staff also likes the size and depth remaining up front. Look for defensive end George Johnson to have a big season on the left side. The concern is in the secondary, and specifically at the corner spots where Devin McCourty in the only experienced player at the position.

Prediction: 3rd Big East Conference – Newly expanded Rutgers Stadium will be rocking on September 7th when the Scarlet Knights open the season against reigning Big East champion Cincinnati. The Knights then close out the 2009 regular season against perennial powerhouse West Virginia. If they can win one of those games, they could earn themselves at least a share of the conference title. I think the Knights will come up just short though with the quarterback position holding them back. Rutgers is listed at +500 to win the 2009 Big East title.

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