Rutgers football schedule: Ranking opponents 1 through 12

[Scarlet_Scourge]

New Article:


Welcome to the era of nine Big Ten games and only three non-conference games.

What's that new scheduling format mean? For Rutgers in 2016, it's swapping out Kansas for Iowa. Or Army for Minnesota. Or some other likely win in years goneby for a toss-up.

Possibly the difference between a winning season, a .500 season and a losing season, or between bowl eligibility and no bowl eligibility.

The 2016 schedule was finalized long before coach Chris Ash was hired and it does him no favors with nine opponents coming off of bowl trips.

Here is Gannett New Jersey's annual ranking of the 12 regular-season opponents from easiest to hardest:

http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...all-schedule-ranking-2016-opponents/86733682/

 

[PhilaPhans]

I'd say that's a fair list.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

3. at Washington (Sept. 3): Rutgers beat Washington State in Seattle to start the 2014 season, but this ain’t Washington State – as seen by Washington opening as a 20-point favorite. With playmakers at the offensive skill positions and experience up front and on defense, the Huskies are a possible sleeper to reach the College Football Playoff in their third season under former Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

3. at Washington (Sept. 3): Rutgers beat Washington State in Seattle to start the 2014 season, but this ain’t Washington State – as seen by Washington opening as a 20-point favorite. With playmakers at the offensive skill positions and experience up front and on defense, the Huskies are a possible sleeper to reach the College Football Playoff in their third season under former Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

View embedded media

Funny we have "experts" here who continually tell us how much experience you lost on O at the playmaker and OL positions. Personally I see a team possibly headed towards The Holiday Bowl or something similar. Very difficult opener for a team in the position we're in, unfortunately, but hoping to make it out there!

Good luck this season!

 

[Knight Shift]

On the flip side of the coin, half this board refuses to believe Rutgers will suck this year. Some of us reasonably expect Rutgers to compete against a team that went 6-6 in a neutered PAC10/12 last year.

 

[beaced]

3. at Washington (Sept. 3): Rutgers beat Washington State in Seattle to start the 2014 season, but this ain’t Washington State – as seen by Washington opening as a 20-point favorite. With playmakers at the offensive skill positions and experience up front and on defense, the Huskies are a possible sleeper to reach the College Football Playoff in their third season under former Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

View embedded media

Funny we have "experts" here who continually tell us how much experience you lost on O at the playmaker and OL positions. Personally I see a team possibly headed towards The Holiday Bowl or something similar. Very difficult opener for a team in the position we're in, unfortunately, but hoping to make it out there!

Good luck this season!

Their strongest position is at HC. Chris Petersen makes my ALL American Team.

 

[rivals1982]

Surprised by Washington at 3. I don't think they are that good. Pac 12 is always overrated.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

On the flip side of the coin, half this board refuses to believe Rutgers will suck this year. Some of us reasonably expect Rutgers to compete against a team that went 6-6 in a neutered PAC10/12 last year.

You continue to omit half the equation: us. Unfortunately we've got a lot - A LOT - of work to do and most of us understand this my friend, hence, our uncomfortable feelings headed into this opener.

 

[cicero grimes]

One game at a time. UW is tough and well coached. Hoping for a close game.

 

[Extra Point]

Rutgers is going to light Washington up.

 

[PaKnight]

3. at Washington (Sept. 3): Rutgers beat Washington State in Seattle to start the 2014 season, but this ain’t Washington State – as seen by Washington opening as a 20-point favorite. With playmakers at the offensive skill positions and experience up front and on defense, the Huskies are a possible sleeper to reach the College Football Playoff in their third season under former Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

View embedded media

To be fair, we were a double digit underdog when we played WSU in 2014 as well.

 

[DJ Spanky]

I'd put "at Michigan State" before "at Washington" and "Michigan".

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

To be fair, we were a double digit underdog when we played WSU in 2014 as well.

The spread is 22.5. There's double digits and then there's double digits. I see a 10 pt. win for Washington in a low scoring game ... 24 - 14.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Surprised by Washington at 3. I don't think they are that good. Pac 12 is always overrated.

How is the PAC 12 always overrated? The PAC plays more P5 opponents on average than any other P5 conference and has been doing so for years now. The 9 game conference schedule that the B1G will start this year has been going on in the PAC for 5 years now .. 6 years with this season. The PAC eats its own during the regular season.

 

[rivals1982]

How is the PAC 12 always overrated? The PAC plays more P5 opponents on average than any other P5 conference and has been doing so for years now. The 9 game conference schedule that the B1G will start this year has been going on in the PAC for 5 years now .. 6 years with this season. The PAC eats its own during the regular season.

There are few good teams in the Pac12 - maybe just UCLA and Stanford now. A lot of historic programs that haven't been good the past few years - like USC and Oregon.

Most of the programs are not good at football generally - like WSU, Arizona, ASU, Colorado, etc.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

There are few good teams in the Pac12 - maybe just UCLA and Stanford now. A lot of historic programs that haven't been good the past few years - like USC and Oregon.

Most of the programs are not good at football generally - like WSU, Arizona, ASU, Colorado, etc.

UCLA has underachieved year after year. Oregon has the best record of any P5 team in the past decade. WSU was a last second missed FG vs Stanford from going 10 - 3 last season. Washington has underachieved year after year but they spent money on a stadium renovation and new HC (Chris Petersen) and they look to be back in the thick of things by 2017 if not this year.

The B1G has ... Ohio St., MSU, and now Michigan once again thanks to Harbaugh.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

PAC-12 is not overrated, you just have the West Coast problem in that most of us on the East coast never see you guys play.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/athlon-sports-2016-preseason-college-football-top-25

SEC has 6 Schools Ranked
Pac-12 has 5 Schools Ranked
Big Ten has 4 Schools Ranked
Big 12 has 4 Schools Ranked
ACC has 4 Schools Ranked
Group of 5 combined: Houston
UND