After a month of rest, Rutgers is getting back on the football field.
The Scarlet Knights (7-5, 4-5) face Kansas State (8-4, 4-5) in the Rate Bowl on Thursday, December 26, at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. They will look to earn their eighth bowl win in program history, and seventh under head coach Greg Schiano (6-2).
The first of those wins was a 37-10 trouncing of the Wildcats at the 2006 Texas Bowl, the cherry on top of the greatest season in modern program history. Can Rutgers earn a second straight win over Kansas State, 18 years later?
The cast of the Rutgers Rant is back to give its best guess.
Here’s the leaderboard through the regular season (mobile users, click here to see the graphic):
Here’s what the NJ Advance Media crew thinks about this Thursday’s matchup (Kansas State -6.5):
Steve Politi, columnist
It is never wise to pick against Greg Schiano in bowl season, not when the Rutgers head coach has a 6-2 record. Even one of those losses, in the Insight Bowl in 2005, was an impressive cover in a game that Arizona State was heavily favored. But I can’t shake the feeling that Kansas State is simply the better team this time, and in the era of bowl opt-outs, hasn’t gotten hit with the player defections (like Miami did a year ago in the Pinstripe Bowl) that would make a major difference. I will split the difference, however, and take the Rutgers cover.
Prediction: Kansas State 31, Rutgers 28.
Brian Fonseca, beat reporter
Rutgers is built to win bowl games under Schiano, whose record in the postseason as a head coach (6-2) shows how seriously he takes them. Unlike Kansas State, the Scarlet Knights have not lost any key players to the portal or the NFL (as of this writing). Many of their best players are seniors who will be playing in their final collegiate game, a significant emotional boost. Behind its emerging offense and resurgent defense, Rutgers will add another win to its bowl record and another trophy to the Hale Center cabinet.
Prediction: Rutgers 27, Kansas State 24.
Pat Lanni, beat reporter
Greg Schiano knows this will be one of the most-talented offensive team his squad will play this season. After all, he compared Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson to Pat White, the West Virginia quarterback who tormented Rutgers with his legs. While Johnson still has a long way to go to make that comparison land, it still points to the fact that Rutgers will have its hands full. Will the defense be ready for the speed it will see in Phoenix? If Rutgers can keep Johnson between the tackles, it can make this a game in the fourth quarter. After all, if there’s anything to take away from this season, it’s how vastly improved the Rutgers offense was by the end of the year.
Prediction: Kansas State 28, Rutgers 21.
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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.
Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com.
Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com.
