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Rutgers Football: Can Scarlet Knights rebound against Kansas?

By Christian Candeloro

PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 01: Raheem Blackshear #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is celebrated for the first touchdown of the game against the Texas State Bobcats during the first quarter at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 01: Raheem Blackshear #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is celebrated for the first touchdown of the game against the Texas State Bobcats during the first quarter at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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Here’s the Week 3 preview and prediction for Saturday’s Rutgers football game against Kansas. Who will win the battle of the bottom-dwellers?

A surprisingly interesting match-up between two cellar-dwellers kicks-off in Lawrence this weekend as Rutgers (1-1) travels to face Kansas (1-1).

Rutgers will try and rebound from a 52-3 loss on the road to Ohio State in Week 2, a game that saw freshman quarterback Art Sitkowski leave the game with a shoulder injury. While his availability was a major concern for Rutgers all week, it appears Sitkowski will play against the Jayhawks, a major relief for Scarlet Knights fans.

Sitkowski hasn’t lit the world on fire while on the field, completing just 54.2 percent of his passes and throwing four interceptions to just one touchdown but the Rutgers offense is better with him on the field.

The Jayhawks relied on a strong running game and four interceptions to break the longest road losing streak in the FBS in a win over Central Michigan. There is a lot of optimism around the team after the win and it’ll be interesting to see if any momentum carries over into this game.

Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender has thrown for 317 and three touchdowns in two games and freshman running back Pooka Williams has been terrific, running for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Kansas will need to have similar success on the ground and rely on its defense if it wants to pull out a win at home in a game it is favored in.

This game is a huge measuring stick for both Chris Ash and David Beaty. Both coaches desperately need to show progress in their program rebuilds, especially Beaty, who has gone 4-34 in his three-plus years at the helm.

It all adds up to a surprisingly interesting game between two teams that need to win this game badly.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s game:

Date: Saturday, September 15
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: Fox Sports Regional Networks
Live Stream: FuboTV

Keys To Victory

A major factor in this game will be whether Sitkowski is able to protect the football against the Kansas defense. If Kansas is able to force turnovers and establish its running game behind Williams and Khalil Herbert, it will be a long day for the Scarlet Knights.

Betting Odds

Line: Kansas -2.5
Over/Under: 44.5

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Prediction

The Jayhawks played well against Central Michigan but it’s important to remember that it’s a game that the Chippewas will likely be a bottom 20 team in the nation this season. Rutgers is not much further ahead talent-wise but it has enough to win this football game on the road. Kansas will ride a wave of confidence to keep the game close early but Rutgers pulls away late to win the game.

Final Score: Rutgers 26, Kansas 10

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