Game 8: Kent State

Rutgers is off to a fantastic 7-0 record this year, and they will take a break from Big East play this week, as they welcome Kent State to New Jersey today, on homecoming. The defense will face another tough rushing attack, and the offense will look to build off the strong effort they put forth in the second half against Temple a week ago after sleep walking through 10 quarters. Rutgers should be able to handle Kent State easily, but the Golden Flashes are a very solid team and if the Knights come out flat and unprepared again, they could get knocked off.

Rutgers on Offense
Rutgers should be able to over power Kent State on the ground, and they will probably look to exploit this early on. They need to keep letting Nova throw the ball over the middle on intermediate routes too, in order to keep some balance. If this plan works, they should be able to connect on some deep balls off play action.

Rutgers on Defense
Rutgers has one of the top run defenses in the country, and they face another quality run offense in Kent State. The Flashes have the dynamic Dri Archer on the backfield, who is very fast and capable of breaking off long runs. Rutgers has a lot of speed on defense, so hopefully that allows them to keep him in check. Kent also has Traylon Durham in the backfield, and he is huge and the thunder to Archer's lightning. Rutgers must be able to get penetration on them and shut their rushing attack down. They might look to load the box too, as Kent State doesn't have much of a passing game.

On punts and kick offs, they should probably kick away from Archer at all coasts, but if they don't, they need to make sure they get down there and tackle him.

Injuries
Kicker Kyle Federico is once again questionable.

Prediction Rutgers 31 Kent State 13
I think Rutgers will be able to run the ball with a lot of success, and they will do a good job shutting Kent State's running game down. Nova will throw for a few more touchdowns, and Dri Archer will break free on a kick return for the only Golden Flash TD of the day.