I come in here once a year to post THE BIG 1 for Rutgers.Well, THE BIG 1 is HERE!Michigan@Rutgers

2. The State of Rutgers

Do you know what a Mulligan is? A Mulligan is a second chance. More specifically, in sports, it is a do-over.

When you perform poorly the first time around, a Mulligan is a chance to erase that performance and replace it with your original intended performance.

This couldn't be a bigger Mulligan for Rutgers.

Over two weeks ago, Rutgers lost their first Big Ten game ever.

The crowd was incredible. The media presence was enormous. The campus was decorated and enthused for one of the most meaningful games in Rutgers history against an all-time great program.

And Rutgers gift-wrapped the win to Penn State (mind you, they covered with the +3.5 losing by 3 which is all we care about).

Penn State you say? Who cares? It was a team plagued by scandal and had is scholarships reduced to almost nothing.

Still to a team like Rutgers, it was the world.

And they failed...in the final minute.

So they went out and crushed Tulane and beat Navy in a nice away game performance and now they get what they really wanted: A chance at redemption with their batteries charged.

Now they get a more storied program and one of the all-time great teams, despite their performance this year. Yes, Rutgers will treat this game like Desmond Howard is still playing for Michigan even though this team isn't a pimple on that one's fanny.

If this is a lookahead spot, Rutgers will want to look at Michigan for as long as possible. This may be their only Big 10 win this year because a slew of losses are forthcoming with:

@Ohio State

@ Nebraska

Wisconsin

Indiana

@Michigan State

@ Maryland

I'd say there's but a single win left on that schedule, if that.
But Michigan is ripe for the taking.

I can assure you, you will get a 100% motivated Rutgers squad who will do everything possible to get this one.

You hate backing Gary Nova? He's only the most prolific passer in Rutgers history. Yes, he can be brutal. Yes, he can turn the ball over (multiple times). But he can also leave it all out on the field when the time is right. This is his last call and perhaps his last shining moment as Rutgers QB. He'll want that moment to end with a win.

One con for Rutgers: They lost their first string RB Paul James vs. Navy. That was not a good thing. Desmon People's is undersized at 5'8'' 175. Still he ran for 85 yards vs. Tulane. While Michigan isn't Tulane, Rutgers should be able to utilize him appropriately vs. their D.

I am posting today because the line has just moved a full point in our favor and it's time to pounce.

It opened at Rutgers -3.5. The public sees Rutgers as nothing more than a laughing stock and the game has been bet down to 2.5 obviously under the most key number of 3 for bettors. The public then shrugs and says "Well it is STILL Michigan so I'll take em!" No, it's not and no this isn't a laughing stock of a Rutgers team in this spot. We will swallow 2.5 as we have no other choice. A FG is enough to take it and a 10 point lead backdoored to 3 won't result in a push.

The crowd will be absolutely rabid for this game so expect full fan support and an even bigger media contingent than the Penn State game.

This game has Louisville@Rutgers 2006 written all over it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFlkYExb0ro

It's time to take down the goalposts in Piscataway.

3 stars (as this game should really be a pick'um)

The pick:

RUTGERS -2.5 over MICHIGAN