I am really optimistic for this weekend

[RUich]

As someone who is usually pretty cautious, I find it interesting that I am so optimistic for this game. I think Wash. St. was really over-rated pre-season and the game they played in was more than just bad weather.
Their defense is not good and their special teams are worse. I happened to see the end of their game last night on the P10 channel. I actually was just in time to see Falk go down. He looked to be in real pain from doing a straight dive into the turf which was abruptly stopped by his left shoulder. I really have to wonder just how effectively he will be operating with that. His replacement didn't look that sharp. Plus, I expect our defense to make his life difficult.
As to our secondary, they certainly looked a lot better as the game went on. Considering what happened that week, the difficulty they showed was not surprising. I cannot imagine our defense not being better than Portland St. and they pretty much stopped WSU.
Everyone seems to think if we jump all over them early, they will fold. Since their coach was talking about any whining getting you cut, I think there is really some bad karma with this team right now and going down early may finish their resolve. If you check their website, the fans are all pretty much now expecting to lose this game. I have to wonder if Flood will change his usual decision to defer getting the kickoff at the start of the second half to just see if Grant can burn them early.
I think we will win this game going away which I didn't think before the season started.

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

I am cautiously optimistic, but there is a part of me that thinks Wazzou is going to be 10x better this weekend.

 

[RU1977]

I'm also optimistic about this game.....

 

[ag67]

It is my nature to never be optimistic about one of our games. I guess it is because the descriptions of our opponents from the media always make them seem like teams of all-stars.

The up side is that I am always excited when we win.

 

[Geoduck12]

We have no idea what to expect after last week. The betting line is even more confusing. Anxious to see if the real offense shows up this week, if so it will be a very entertaining game. If not,ma long flight back.

 

[MikeFingLeach]

The betting line combined with our 'performance' last weekend is very confusing.
Vegas has this as a pick em at a neutral site.

 

[RUich]

Maybe if we had beaten Portland St. and they lost to Norfolk St. things would be different?

 

[RUwoz]

Did losing at home to an FCS team, a very bad one, give you that optimism? Jeez people stop overthinking WSU, we will win more than last week

 

[Blitz8RUCrazy]

I think they score 4 passing TDs against our secondary. But I think we score a balanced 4 rushing and 4 passing TDs.

RU 56
WSU 28

 

[RUich]

In answer to your question, hard to not be more optimistic after their lousy start to the season. My earlier concerns were with what was already a less than great secondary becoming a real question mark with the arrests. I think it got better as the game wore on and they had another week to work on the patchwork quilt.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Football is all about match-ups. Overall I'm quite confident that we have a better D than Portland State, but starting three freshman in the secondary is a bad match-up against a pass-happy Mike Leach team. That explains the tight point spread as well as my concern that we could easily lose this game.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Should be a very good crowd. Remember, children ages 12 and under get FREE tickets. Discount tickets available for $35 for family and friends, as well as Parents and Family of Rutgers students,teachers, and first responders (fire,police,EMT,ambulance,emergency management, and other) Contact Doug Bean in the Rutgers tickets office at 732-907-1574 or dbean@scarletknights.com.

 

[RUich]

LOL :cool2:
And now a message from our sponsor

 

[Abro1975]

I think our team as rallied together against the bullcrap being out there, and I think the Wash St defense has quit on Leach.
Carro is an All American, we have 3 terrific Running backs, a pretty good O line.
I think our Def front 7 willl sack Falk about 7 times.
RU 49
Wash St 17

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Football is all about match-ups. Overall I'm quite confident that we have a better D than Portland State, but starting three freshman in the secondary is a bad match-up against a pass-happy Mike Leach team. That explains the tight point spread as well as my concern that we could easily lose this game.

Football is all about match-ups. Now, if you're concern about Rutgers secondary, then the same should go for WSU QB Falk (& Bender). They are as green as Rutgers secondary. Leach is dumbing down the offense this week just to keep his QB from having brain overload.

Vegas don't know jack about sports other than how to take your money. They set point spreads in their favor and have fools buy into it. The house always win no matter who actual wins the game.

 

[eceres]

Keep in mind it was a down pour - some people might consider that to be a big factor last week.

Can't wait to see us run right through them.

 

[Saint Puppy]

Count me as 1 who doesn't understand the point spread. Sometimes, yes, a game can be a outlier, but Portland State??? As Bill Parcells said 'you are what your record says you are.' - we blew out our crap team and they lost, yet we are a push on a neutral field. Spread should be at least 7 - that being said I am always of the opinion that Vegas is a step ahead so I definitely have concern because of that. Based on what I know and see I would take Rutgers in a heartbeat, but based on the odd spread I would bet on Washington State or not bet at all.