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Rutgers Football: 2018 season game-by-game predictions

By Luke Feliciano

PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Chris Ash of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights stands on the sidelines during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Chris Ash of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights stands on the sidelines during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Rutgers has faced off against the Buckeyes four times–one for each year the Scarlet Knights have competed in the Big Ten East.

In the intradivision matchup, Rutgers has yet to claim a victory. In those four contests, the Scarlet Knights have posted just 24 combined points against the Buckeyes. Here is a breakdown of the scores by year.

  • 2014: 56-17
  • 2015: 49-7
  • 2016: 58-0
  • 2017: 56-0

Ohio State is slated as a favorite to win the Big Ten East and is also gunning for an overall conference championship. According to ESPN’s preseason power rankings, the Buckeyes are the best team in the Big Ten.

Rutgers struggled to defend the run last season as Ash even mentioned during his time at the podium speaking at Big Ten Media day last week. Ohio State returns one of the top young running backs in the country in J.K. Dobbins. Pair him with other explosive players such as Parris Campbell and the Scarlet Knights will have fits trying to stop the potent Buckeyes offense.

Not to mention, even though long-time starter J.T. Barrett is gone, Ohio State has perhaps an even more dynamic quarterback in Dwayne Haskins, who has been waiting in the wings. He is expected to be the starter this season.

Rutgers was blanked each of the last two meetings with Ohio State, so there is no true reason to believe the Scarlet Knights can feasibly pull off an upset. The game is also on the road in front of a capacity that is nearly double the size of Rutgers’ home field. At the same time, anything is possible of course and stranger things have happened set against the backdrop of college football.

If this game was scheduled for later in the season, an underdog victory could have maybe been in the cards but the early season matchup for Rutgers isn’t exactly the most ideal situation–mostly because it will be hard pressed to rush development for an offense that is mostly filled with underclassmen.

Final: Ohio State 56, Rutgers 10 (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

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