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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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

The last time Rutgers faced Kansas was in 2015 when the Scarlet Knights beat the Jayhawks at home, 27-14.

Kansas is often mocked as being the worst Power 5 conference team in the nation and the numbers somewhat back up this claim. The Jayhawks have three wins over the last three seasons and the last time they had a winning season was nearly a decade ago in 2008.

Kansas was picked to finish last in both the USA Today and ESPN power rankings for the Big 12, a spot they haven’t been able to climb out of for years.

This time, Rutgers will travel to the midwest for an out-of-conference game against Kansas but it should prevail and hopefully, a game such as this will help foster confidence in a team that could use all of the wins it can get in favorable contests.

Kansas’ run defense wasn’t very strong last season as the Jayhawks surrendered around 173 rushing yards and nearly three rushing touchdowns per game.

This should open up plenty of running opportunities for the tailback tandem of Raheem Blackshear and Jonathan Hilliman, the two backs expected to carry the majority of the workload.

Based on the projected ourlads.com depth chart, quarterback Peyton Bender will return as the starter. He threw the same amount of touchdown passes (10) as he did interceptions in 2017. That track record will give a mostly veteran-laden Rutgers secondary chances to make plays on the defensive side of the ball.

Final: Kansas 7, Rutgers 38 (2-1)

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